There is no official national ranking that identifies one doctor as the best pulmonologist in Nepal for every patient. The right specialist depends on the person’s symptoms, diagnosis, clinical needs, location, communication preferences, and access to appropriate hospital support.

Dr. Kundan Singh Karki is a Senior Consultant Physician and Pulmonologist at Nagarik Community Teaching Hospital in Bhaktapur. Nagarik Hospital lists his qualifications as MBBS, MD in Internal Medicine, and FCCM Fellowship training in Pulmonology at SGRM, Delhi. He also serves as the hospital’s Medical Director.

This blog explains his verified professional profile, the respiratory conditions he evaluates, when to consult a pulmonologist, and the criteria patients should consider before choosing a lung specialist.

Medical note: This article provides general health information. It does not diagnose symptoms or replace an examination by a qualified healthcare professional.

Is There One Official Best Pulmonologist in Nepal?

No official medical ranking identifies one physician as the best pulmonologist or lung specialist for every respiratory problem. A doctor who is appropriate for a person with long-term asthma may not necessarily be the most appropriate specialist for someone who needs sleep-medicine care, an advanced lung procedure, intensive-care management, or thoracic surgery.

For patients, “best” should mean best suited to the individual situation.

A suitable pulmonologist should generally offer:

• Relevant medical qualifications and respiratory training.
• Experience with the patient’s symptoms or diagnosed condition.
• A careful history and physical examination.
• Access to appropriate testing and hospital support.
• Clear explanations of the diagnosis and available options.
• A reasonable follow-up plan.
• Referral to another specialist when the condition falls outside their scope.

A credible specialist should not promise a diagnosis or treatment outcome before completing the necessary assessment.

Who Is Dr. Kundan Singh Karki?

Dr. Kundan Singh Karki is associated with Nagarik Hospital as a Senior Consultant Physician and Pulmonologist. He is also in the role of Medical Director of Nagarik Community Teaching Hospital.

His qualifications listed on the hospital website include:

• MBBS
• MD in Internal Medicine
• FCCM Fellowship in Pulmonology at SGRM, Delhi

Dr. Kundan Singh Karki has more than 15 years of experience as a respiratory specialist, with extensive expertise in the field of pulmonology.
. His combination of internal-medicine training and pulmonology experience may be particularly relevant when breathing problems overlap with infection, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, medication use, or other medical conditions.

Pulmonology is the medical specialty concerned with diseases of the lungs, airways, breathing system, and related structures. Pulmonologists commonly evaluate symptoms such as chronic cough, wheezing, unexplained breathlessness, recurring chest infections, and abnormal chest imaging.

What Conditions Does Dr. Kundan Singh Karki Evaluate?

Dr. Kundan Singh Karki has clinical expertise in managing asthma, COPD, persistent cough, pneumonia, tuberculosis and post-TB lung problems, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung diseases, pleural disorders, allergic respiratory conditions, sleep-related breathing disorders, pulmonary rehabilitation, and respiratory critical care.

The following table shows why patients with these concerns may need specialist assessment.

Asthma and COPD are among the major chronic respiratory diseases recognized by the World Health Organization. Respiratory infections, including pneumonia and tuberculosis, can also cause acute illness and longer-term lung damage.

The same symptom can have several possible causes. A cough, for example, does not automatically mean asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis, or lung cancer. Diagnosis requires the symptom history, examination, risk factors, and appropriate testing.

Why Does Hospital Support Matter When Choosing a Pulmonologist?

Some respiratory conditions can be managed through routine outpatient follow-up. Others require imaging, laboratory testing, oxygen monitoring, emergency stabilization, hospital admission, or consultation with several specialties.

Nagarik Hospital is a multispeciality teaching hospital located in Gatthaghar, Bhaktapur. The hospital provides internal medicine, radiology, emergency care, ICU support, surgery, diagnostics, and other specialty services. It is a 100-bed hospital equipped with emergency medical services and Level 3 ICU support.

This hospital setting may be helpful when:

• Breathlessness could involve both the heart and lungs.
• A patient has diabetes, kidney disease, or another medical condition.
• Chest imaging needs specialist interpretation.
• A respiratory infection becomes severe.
• Oxygen levels are low.
• A patient requires urgent monitoring or critical care.
• Another specialist’s opinion is needed.

The Internal Medicine Department at Nagarik Hospital includes Dr. Kundan Singh Karki along with other medical and respiratory specialists. The Radiology Department offers both diagnostic and interventional radiology services.

Patients seeking more information about respiratory treatment and intensive care can also explore Nagarik Hospital’s guide to pulmonology and critical care in Nepal.

Considering a respiratory consultation?

Patients with ongoing cough, recurring wheezing, difficult-to-control asthma, repeated chest infections, abnormal chest imaging, or unexplained breathlessness may request a pulmonology appointment at Nagarik Hospital.

A routine appointment is not appropriate for sudden or life-threatening breathing difficulty.

When Should You See a Pulmonologist?

A pulmonology consultation is generally appropriate when breathing symptoms persist, return frequently, worsen, or interfere with sleep, exercise, work, or daily activities.

Consider consulting a lung specialist when you have:

• A persistent cough that is not improving.
• Repeated wheezing or chest tightness.
• Breathlessness during ordinary activities.
• Recurring pneumonia or chest infection.
• Daily or excessive phlegm.
• Asthma that remains poorly controlled.
• A previous diagnosis of COPD.
• Previous tuberculosis with continuing respiratory symptoms.
• An abnormal chest X-ray or CT scan.
• Snoring with witnessed breathing pauses.
• Unexplained low oxygen levels.
• A history of smoking, second-hand smoke, household smoke, dust, or occupational exposure.

A cough lasting three weeks or longer can be one symptom of pulmonary tuberculosis, particularly when accompanied by chest pain, sputum, blood in the sputum, fever, weight loss, fatigue, or night sweats. These symptoms do not confirm TB, but they require timely medical evaluation and appropriate testing.

A person with mild, recent cold symptoms may initially consult a general physician. Referral to a pulmonologist may become appropriate when the symptoms are persistent, severe, recurrent, diagnostically unclear, or associated with an established respiratory condition.

What Happens During a Pulmonology Consultation?

A pulmonology consultation usually begins with a detailed discussion about the symptoms and relevant medical history.

The doctor may ask about:

• When the cough or breathlessness started.
• Whether symptoms are constant or episodic.
• Exercise tolerance.
• Fever, sputum, wheezing, or chest discomfort.
• Smoking and second-hand-smoke exposure.
• Household cooking smoke.
• Workplace dust or chemical exposure.
• Previous tuberculosis or pneumonia.
• Allergies and seasonal symptoms.
• Medicines and inhalers.
• Sleep quality, snoring, or breathing pauses.
• Existing heart, kidney, metabolic, or immune conditions.

The clinical examination may include listening to the lungs, observing the breathing pattern, and checking oxygen saturation. Depending on the suspected condition, further evaluation may involve spirometry, blood tests, sputum testing, chest X-ray, CT imaging, bronchoscopy, or sleep assessment. Not every patient requires every test.

Bring previous medical reports, chest images, laboratory results, prescriptions, hospital-discharge papers, and inhalers to the appointment. These records can help the doctor understand what has already been investigated or treated.

Patients should also be ready to describe how symptoms affect walking, climbing stairs, sleeping, working, and completing daily activities.

How Should You Choose the Right Pulmonologist in Nepal?

1. Verify the doctor’s qualifications

Review the physician’s medical education, specialty training, current hospital role, and professional background.

Dr. Kundan Singh Karki holds an MBBS degree, an MD in Internal Medicine, and FCCM Fellowship training in Pulmonology.

Before booking an appointment, patients may contact Nagarik Hospital to confirm his current registration details, availability, and consultation schedule.

2. Match the doctor’s expertise to your condition

A patient with asthma, COPD, chronic cough, tuberculosis-related symptoms, bronchiectasis, ILD, or repeated infection should check whether the physician regularly evaluates that condition.

Patients needing a specific advanced procedure or a highly specialized service should confirm that the physician and hospital provide it. Do not assume that every pulmonologist performs every respiratory procedure.

3. Consider access to diagnostic services

Respiratory symptoms sometimes require lung-function testing, imaging, oxygen assessment, laboratory testing, or sputum examination.

Access to these services in a coordinated hospital setting may make evaluation and follow-up more convenient. However, more testing is not always better. Tests should be selected according to the patient’s symptoms and clinical findings.

4. Evaluate communication

A helpful consultation should leave the patient understanding:

• The likely causes being considered.
• Which tests are necessary and why.
• What the results mean.
• The recommended treatment or follow-up plan.
• Which symptoms require urgent care.
• When another specialist’s opinion is needed.

Patients should feel able to ask questions without being rushed or dismissed.

5. Assess continuity of care

Long-term respiratory conditions often require repeated assessment rather than a single appointment.

Ask how follow-up is handled, where urgent problems should be reported, and whether previous reports will be available to the treating team.

6. Consider location and emergency access

For people living in Bhaktapur or the eastern side of Kathmandu Valley, a pulmonologist in Bhaktapur may be more accessible for repeated appointments.

Nagarik Community Teaching Hospital is located in Gatthaghar, Bhaktapur. General enquiries are available through the hospital’s contact page.

7. Be cautious with unsupported claims

No doctor should be selected solely because of phrases such as “number one,” “100% successful,” “guaranteed cure,” or “best for everyone.”

Trustworthy medical content should identify qualifications, services, limitations, authorship, review status, and sources without promising outcomes.

When Is Breathing Difficulty an Emergency?

Seek emergency care immediately when breathing difficulty is sudden, severe, or accompanied by warning signs such as:

• Severe chest pain or pressure.
• Blue, grey, or unusually pale lips or skin.
• Fainting, confusion, or reduced alertness.
• Inability to speak normally because of breathlessness.
• Coughing up a significant amount of blood.
• Rapidly worsening wheezing.
• Severe breathing problems after surgery, injury, or prolonged immobility.
• A serious asthma or COPD flare-up that is not responding to the prescribed rescue plan.

Sudden severe breathlessness, breathlessness with chest pain or fainting, blue lips, and altered alertness require emergency assessment rather than a routine clinic appointment.

Nagarik Hospital lists 24-hour emergency and ambulance support. Patients can review its emergency medical services, but during a life-threatening situation, use the nearest available emergency service rather than travelling a long distance for a preferred doctor.

Why Patients Consider Dr. Kundan Singh Karki as their pulmonologist?

Patients looking for an experienced pulmonologist in Nepal may consider Dr. Kundan Singh Karki based on his background in internal medicine and pulmonology, fellowship training, and experience in managing both common and complex respiratory conditions. He serves as a Senior Consultant Physician and Pulmonologist, Medical Director, and works within the multispeciality hospital environment of Nagarik Hospital in Bhaktapur.

He may be a suitable option for patients experiencing chronic cough, asthma, COPD, recurrent respiratory infections, post-TB lung problems, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, pleural disorders, unexplained shortness of breath, or other respiratory concerns.

However, the most appropriate specialist depends on each patient’s condition and medical needs. Patients should first schedule a consultation and confirm that the required diagnostic or treatment services are available.

Key Takeaways

Dr. Kundan Singh Karki is a Senior Consultant Physician, Pulmonologist, and Medical Director at Nagarik Community Teaching Hospital. His profile lists internal-medicine training, pulmonology fellowship training, and experience with a broad range of respiratory conditions.

For persistent or recurring respiratory symptoms, review Dr. Kundan Singh Karki’s profile and request an appointment.

For sudden severe breathlessness, chest pain, blue lips, confusion, fainting, or significant coughing of blood, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Content prepared: July 24, 2026
Clinical reviewed by : Medical Content Team at Nagarik Hospital.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the best pulmonologist in Nepal?

Dr. Kundan Singh Karki is regarded as one of the best pulmonologists in Nepal. With more than 15 years of experience in pulmonology, he has extensive expertise in diagnosing and managing a wide range of respiratory conditions.

Who is Dr. Kundan Singh Karki?

Dr. Kundan Singh Karki is a Senior Consultant Physician, Pulmonologist, and Medical Director at Nagarik Community Teaching Hospital in Bhaktapur. His listed qualifications include MBBS, MD in Internal Medicine, and FCCM Fellowship training in Pulmonology at SGRM, Delhi.

What conditions does Dr. Kundan Singh Karki treat?

Dr. Kundan Singh Karki has expertise in managing asthma, COPD, persistent cough, pneumonia, tuberculosis and post-TB lung problems, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, pleural disorders, wheezing, allergic respiratory conditions, sleep-related breathing disorders, respiratory infections, and respiratory conditions requiring critical care.

The most appropriate treatment depends on a detailed medical evaluation, examination, and accurate diagnosis.

When should I consult a pulmonologist?

Consult a pulmonologist when cough, wheezing, breathlessness, recurring infection, excessive phlegm, or chest tightness persists, returns frequently, or affects daily activities. A specialist assessment may also be appropriate after abnormal chest imaging, previous TB, difficult-to-control asthma, COPD, or suspected sleep-related breathing problems.

Is a pulmonologist the same as a chest doctor?

In everyday use, “pulmonologist,” “lung specialist,” “respiratory physician,” and “chest doctor” often refer to a physician who evaluates diseases affecting the lungs and breathing system. The physician’s formal training and scope of practice should still be verified.

Do I need a referral to see Dr. Kundan Singh Karki?

Nagarik Hospital provides an online appointment pathway, but referral requirements may vary according to the patient’s insurer, employer plan, previous doctor, or clinical situation. Contact the hospital before visiting to confirm current requirements and availability.

Where does Dr. Kundan Singh Karki practise?

Dr. Kundan Singh Karki is associated with Nagarik Community Teaching Hospital in Gatthaghar, Bhaktapur, Nepal. Patients should confirm his current consultation schedule with the hospital before travelling.

What should I bring to a pulmonology consultation?

Bring previous prescriptions, inhalers, chest X-rays or CT scans, pulmonary-function reports, blood and sputum results, hospital-discharge documents, and a list of current medicines. Also note when symptoms started, what triggers them, and how they affect sleep, exercise, and daily activities.

What tests might a pulmonologist recommend?

Depending on the symptoms, a pulmonologist may recommend oxygen measurement, spirometry, chest X-ray, CT imaging, blood tests, sputum tests, bronchoscopy, or sleep assessment. Not every patient requires every test, and the investigation should be selected after clinical assessment.

When should breathing problems be treated as an emergency?

Sudden severe breathlessness, blue or grey lips, severe chest pain, fainting, confusion, inability to speak because of breathing difficulty, or coughing up substantial blood require urgent emergency assessment. Do not wait for a routine pulmonology appointment.