Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 2026

1. Introduction

Your privacy matters to us. This Privacy Policy explains how Dr. Maham Iqbal (“we”, “us” or “our”) collects, uses, stores and protects your personal information when you visit this website, contact us, book an appointment or use our online consultation services.

Because we provide mental health care, we understand that the information you share with us is deeply personal. We are committed to handling it with the highest level of care, confidentiality and respect. By using this website, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

2. Who We Are

This website is operated by Dr. Maham Iqbal, Psychiatrist (MBBS, MD Psychiatry (RC), CAMH-C), who is associated with Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, and sees patients by appointment at Gynemed Hospital, Lahore, as well as through secure online consultations. For any questions about this policy, please see the “Contact Us” section below.

3. Information We Collect

Information you provide to us

When you fill in an appointment or contact form, call us, message us on WhatsApp or email us, we may collect:

• Your name, phone number and email address
• Your preferred appointment date, time and type of consultation
• The service or concern you would like help with
• Any additional information you choose to share in a message

Health information

During consultations, we collect information about your physical and mental health, medical history, medications and treatment. This information is collected only for the purpose of providing you with care and is treated as strictly confidential.

Information collected automatically

When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, such as your device type, browser, IP address, pages visited and time spent on the site. This helps us understand how the website is used and improve it.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your information only for legitimate purposes connected to your care and our services, including to:

• Respond to your enquiries and schedule appointments
• Provide assessments, consultations and treatment
• Send appointment confirmations and reminders
• Maintain accurate medical records
• Follow up on your care and progress
• Improve our website and services
• Send occasional health information or updates, only if you have chosen to receive them

We do not use your personal or health information for any purpose unrelated to your care without your consent.

5. Medical Confidentiality

All information shared during consultations is protected by medical confidentiality, in line with the ethical standards of the medical profession in Pakistan. Your health information will not be disclosed to anyone, including family members, employers or schools, without your consent, except in the limited circumstances described in Section 7.

For patients under 18, information is shared with parents or legal guardians as appropriate for the young person’s care and safety. Where possible, the young person’s views and privacy are also respected.

6. Your Consent

By submitting your information through our website, phone, WhatsApp or email, you consent to us using it as described in this policy. You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us, although this will not affect any processing already carried out, or records we are required to keep for medical or legal reasons.

7. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information to anyone.

We may share your information only in the following situations:

• With your consent, for example when you ask us to share a report with another doctor or an employer.
• With healthcare professionals involved in your care, such as when you are referred for tests or to another specialist.
• With trusted service providers who help us operate our website, communications or online consultations, and who are required to keep your information secure and use it only for the services they provide to us.
• Where required by law, such as in response to a valid court order or a legal obligation.
• To protect life and safety, where there is a serious and immediate risk of harm to you or to someone else.

8. Online Consultations

Online consultations are conducted through secure video or audio platforms. For your privacy, we recommend that you join from a private, quiet space and use your own device. Online consultations are not recorded without your explicit permission.

While we take reasonable steps to keep online sessions secure, no internet-based communication can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

9. WhatsApp, Phone and Email Communication

If you contact us through WhatsApp, phone or email, your messages are used only to respond to you and manage your appointments. Please avoid sharing detailed medical information through these channels unless necessary, and remember that messages sent through third-party apps are also subject to those providers’ own privacy policies.

10. Cookies and Analytics

Our website may use cookies, small text files stored on your device, to make the website work properly and to understand how visitors use it. We may also use analytics tools, which collect information about website use in a form that does not directly identify you.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect how some parts of the website work.

11. How We Protect Your Information

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information from unauthorised access, loss, misuse or disclosure. Access to personal and health information is limited to those who need it to provide your care or operate our services.

However, no method of transmitting or storing information electronically is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

12. How Long We Keep Your Information

We keep your personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy. Medical records are kept for the period required for safe continuity of care and in line with professional and legal requirements. Enquiries that do not lead to an appointment are deleted after a reasonable period. When information is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or destroyed.

Records created during in-person consultations at Gynemed Hospital are also held by the hospital and are subject to the hospital’s own privacy and record-keeping policies.

13. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Ask us to correct any information that is inaccurate or incomplete
• Ask us to delete your information, where we are not required to keep it for medical or legal reasons
• Withdraw your consent to receiving updates or newsletters at any time
• Raise a concern about how your information has been handled

To make a request, please contact us using the details below. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

14. Children’s Privacy

We provide mental health care for children and teenagers. Personal information about patients under 18 should be submitted by a parent or legal guardian, who will also be involved in decisions about the child’s care. If we learn that information about a child has been submitted without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete it.

15. Information Stored Outside Pakistan

Some service providers we use, such as website hosting, email or communication platforms, may store information on servers located outside Pakistan. Where this happens, we choose providers that apply appropriate security measures.

16. Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to other websites, such as hospital pages or social media. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these websites and encourage you to read their privacy policies.

17. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services or legal requirements. The latest version will always be available on this page, with the date of the most recent update shown at the top.

18. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact us: