NIH Allergy Center Islamabad: Complete Guide to Timings, Fees, Tests, Vaccine, and Location
Every year, thousands of people from across Pakistan travel to one place for allergy treatment: the Allergy Center at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad. If you are planning your first visit, this guide brings together the practical information patients actually ask about — timings, fees, tests, the vaccine course, and how to reach the center — in one place.
What is the NIH Allergy Center?
The Allergy Center is the allergy clinic working inside the National Institute of Health (NIH) campus in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad. It is a public-sector facility, and it is known mainly for two things: diagnosing allergies through testing, and treating confirmed allergies with allergy vaccine immunotherapy.
Patients come here with seasonal and year-round problems: pollen allergy (including paper mulberry pollen, which is a major Islamabad problem in spring), dust allergy, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis (itchy, watery eyes), skin rashes, urticaria (hives), and food allergies including wheat allergy. Because it is one of the few dedicated public allergy facilities in the country, patients travel here from many cities — which is also why it gets very busy.
Where is it located?
The center is located at the NIH Allergy Center, OPD, NIH Road, Chak Shahzad, Islamabad. The center’s contact number, as listed on its own contact page, is +92 (51) 9255881-2. You can also reach the center through its Facebook Page, Allergy Center Islamabad, where updates and notices are posted. See our location page and contact number page for directions and details.
Timings and working days
The center’s confirmed timings are: Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 3:45pm, with a lunch and prayer break from 1:00pm to 1:30pm; Saturday, 8:00am to 1:00pm; and Sunday closed. An evening private practice also runs Monday to Friday, 4:00pm to 7:00pm. These are the timings confirmed by the center itself — older timings that still appear on some websites are outdated. Full details are on our timings page.
Because the center is busy, patients are advised to arrive early. Our appointment guide explains the process: no advance booking is needed, but arriving early matters, Fridays and crowded days are best avoided, and out-of-town patients may need an overnight stay.
What happens on your first visit?
On a first visit, the doctors take your history and examine you, and then decide which tests are needed. Diagnosis usually involves allergy testing — most commonly a skin prick test, in which small amounts of suspected allergens are placed on the forearm and the skin’s reaction is read after 15 to 20 minutes. In some cases, blood tests or other investigations are also advised.
If the test is positive, the center starts allergy vaccination (immunotherapy). If the doctors find another medical problem, they refer the patient to the relevant doctor or hospital. Treatment is not limited to the visit itself: after a first visit and prescription, vaccine can be delivered across Pakistan, which is why so many out-of-city patients use this center.
Who can — and cannot — be tested?
One rule surprises many families, so it is worth knowing before you travel. According to a notice shared on the center’s own Facebook Page, allergy tests are not done for children under 10 years of age or for patients over 60 years of age. This is the reason many parents ask whether a 9-year-old child, or a 70-year-old parent, can be tested — under the center’s own rule, they cannot. If you are unsure whether you fall in the eligible age range, confirm with the center before visiting.
Allergy vaccine (immunotherapy): how long does it take?
The allergy vaccine course at the center runs for about three years in total. This is the part patients most often misunderstand. Immunotherapy works by gradually exposing the immune system to small, increasing doses of the allergen so the body learns to tolerate it. Improvement is usually gradual — many patients notice a difference in the first few months, but full benefit can take a year or more, and the course continues for years to build lasting tolerance.
That is also why some patients say the vaccine “is not working” after a few weeks. A few weeks is simply too early to judge a three-year treatment. During the course, medicines may also be given alongside the vaccine, and the center’s team adjusts the plan according to response. Common side effects of allergy shots are mild — redness or swelling where the injection was given, or a temporary increase in sneezing — while serious reactions are rare, which is why patients are observed after each dose.
Fees: what does a visit cost?
According to the center’s own fees page, the first visit — consultation, vaccine, and skin prick test together — costs Rs 1,700, while medicines bought outside cost around Rs 2,000 to 4,000, with most of the cost falling on the first visit. Full details are on our fees page. Because charges can change over time, it is sensible to confirm the current fee at the center before you travel, especially if you are coming from another city.
Does the center have other branches?
Patients often ask about a branch in Lahore or elsewhere. According to the center’s own information, there is no branch except Quetta. Patients from Lahore, Karachi, and other cities therefore travel to Islamabad for the first visit, and then continue the vaccine course with delivery arranged afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NIH Allergy Center government or private?
It works inside the National Institute of Health (NIH), a public-sector institute, in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad.
Do I need an appointment before visiting?
No advance booking is needed, but arrive early — the center is busy and queues form quickly.
Can children under 10 or adults over 60 be tested?
According to the center’s own notice, allergy tests are not done for these age groups.
How long does the allergy vaccine course last?
About three years in total, with gradual improvement rather than instant results.
Can I get the vaccine delivered to my city?
Yes — after a first visit and prescription, vaccine delivery across Pakistan is available, as described on the center’s website.
The bottom line
The NIH Allergy Center Islamabad is the country’s best-known public allergy facility: testing, diagnosis, and a three-year vaccine course, all in one place at Chak Shahzad. The key to a smooth visit is simple — check the confirmed timings, arrive early, confirm the current fee before travelling, and read the appointment guide so you know what the first day involves. If you take daily allergy tablets, ask the center whether to stop them before testing, since they can affect test results.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Timings, fees, age rules, and treatment plans should always be confirmed with the center directly, as they can change.
