Dr. Pankaj Mohan Sawal

Dr. Pankaj Mohan Sawal provides comprehensive family medical care for a wide variety of health concerns affecting patients of all ages, including but not limited to:

Preventative Health Topics

• Comprehensive Lifestyle Counseling (Diet, Exercise, Sleep, Stress Reduction): Supporting your efforts to adopt and maintain healthier habits across multiple domains of life for a better quality of life, increased resilience, and proactive disease prevention through shared goal setting and ongoing support.
• Travel Medicine Advice & Routine/Travel Vaccinations: Helping you prepare for safe and healthy international travel with essential medical guidance, ensuring you are up-to-date on immunizations and equipped with preventative strategies and medications for common and serious travel-related illnesses.
• Driver's Medical Examinations (Routine, Age-Related, Commercial): Performing comprehensive driver's medicals to ensure individuals meet the health standards necessary for safe vehicle operation, promoting road safety for all.
• Infectious Disease Prevention & Outbreak Management Support (Community Level): Administering vaccinations to prevent communicable diseases and playing a role in community-level surveillance and reporting as required by public health authorities.

Common Acute Conditions

• Headaches (Tension-type, Migraine - Acute Symptomatic Relief): Assessment of acute headaches to differentiate types (e.g., tension headache, migraine, cervicogenic), provide initial pain relief strategies (analgesics, NSAIDs, triptans for migraine), identify potential triggers, and rule out serious underlying causes requiring urgent investigation.
• Allergic Reactions (Mild to Moderate - e.g., Hay Fever, Hives, Minor Food Allergy Symptoms): Diagnosing and managing common allergic reactions such as seasonal/perennial allergic rhinitis (hay fever), mild to moderate hives (urticaria), minor localized reactions to insect stings, and initial assessment of suspected mild food allergy symptoms. Does not include anaphylaxis management which is an emergency.
• Gastrointestinal Infections (Gastroenteritis, Food Poisoning): Advice and supportive care for managing symptoms of viral or bacterial gastroenteritis ('stomach flu') or mild food poisoning, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps, with a primary focus on preventing and managing dehydration, especially in vulnerable populations (children, elderly).

Dermatological Skin Conditions

• Bacterial Skin Infections (Impetigo, Folliculitis, Cellulitis - uncomplicated): Diagnosis and treatment of common superficial bacterial skin infections such as impetigo (honey-crusted lesions), folliculitis (infected hair follicles), and uncomplicated cellulitis (localized skin infection with redness, warmth, swelling, pain) or erysipelas. Management includes topical antibiotics (e.g., mupirocin, fusidic acid) for localized infections or oral antibiotics (e.g., cephalexin, cloxacillin, clindamycin) for more extensive or systemic involvement. Advice on wound care and hygiene.
• Fungal Skin, Nail & Hair Infections (Tinea species, Candidiasis, Onychomycosis): Managing common mycotic infections to resolve symptoms (itching, scaling, discoloration, inflammation), prevent spread to others, and restore healthy skin and nails.
• Acne Vulgaris (Mild to Moderate) & Rosacea Management: Personalized treatment plans for acne and rosacea based on severity, skin type, patient preference, and potential impact on self-esteem.

Mental Health Concerns

• Stress-Related Conditions, Burnout & Adjustment Disorders: Helping individuals build resilience, develop adaptive coping mechanisms (e.g., problem-solving, relaxation techniques, mindfulness), and navigate stressful periods effectively to protect their mental and physical health.
• Initial Assessment & Referral for Other Mental Health Concerns (e.g., OCD, PTSD, Eating Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis): Ensuring individuals with complex or acute mental health needs are connected with the right resources and expertise for effective and safe management.
• Anxiety Disorders (Generalized Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety - Management): Providing comprehensive assessment, psychoeducation, supportive counseling, lifestyle advice (exercise, mindfulness, sleep hygiene), evidence-based medication management (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone), and facilitating timely referrals for psychotherapy (CBT, DBT, etc.) or psychiatric consultation for common anxiety disorders.
• Depression & Other Mood Disorders (e.g., Dysthymia, Seasonal Affective Disorder - Management): Assessing symptoms of depression (low mood, loss of interest/pleasure, fatigue, changes in sleep/appetite) and other mood disorders. Offering empathetic supportive counseling, discussing and initiating treatment options including lifestyle interventions, evidence-based antidepressant medications, and facilitating referrals to psychotherapy or psychiatry for moderate to severe or treatment-resistant cases.

This list offers some examples of common conditions managed in family practice. A diagnosis is always based on an individual assessment by Dr. Sawal. If your specific health concern isn't listed, please contact the clinic to discuss your needs.

• Cardiovascular & Metabolic Risk Assessment & Management: Evaluating risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, including blood pressure measurement, cholesterol (lipid panel) screening, blood glucose testing, and assessing lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, smoking, family history). Includes initiation of preventative medications if indicated.
• Routine Health Check-ups & Physicals for Adults: Comprehensive care focused on health promotion and disease prevention throughout adulthood.
• Evaluation of Acute Headaches & Dizziness / Vertigo: Providing care for acute episodes of headache or dizziness/vertigo, offering relief strategies and guidance.
• Thyroid Disorder Management (Hypo/Hyperthyroidism, Nodules, Hashimoto's): Adjusting thyroid medication based on symptoms and regular blood tests (TSH, free T4, etc.) to maintain optimal thyroid function.
• Assessment of Acute Abdominal Pain, Nausea, Vomiting & Diarrhea: Evaluating acute abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation to determine potential causes (e.g., gastroenteritis, food poisoning, appendicitis, diverticulitis), provide appropriate management for symptom relief and hydration, or facilitate urgent referral if a serious condition is suspected.

Note: This list highlights some of the key services offered by Dr. Sawal. For a comprehensive understanding of all services, or to discuss your specific health needs, please schedule a consultation.

All services are provided in accordance with the scope of practice for Family Doctors in BC and the ethical and professional standards set by The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC).

At Pacific Highway Medical, family medicine is centered on a collaborative partnership to help individuals like you achieve significant improvements in your health, manage ongoing conditions effectively, and enhance your overall well-being. Dr. Sawal frequently works with patients towards goals such as:

• Addressing experiencing heartburn or acid reflux multiple times a week with Dr. Sawal often leads to feeling confident, secure, and proactive in their health because their preventative health screening needs (e.g., for cervical, breast, colorectal, prostate, and lung cancers, as well as screening for AAA, STBBIs, or domestic violence when appropriate) are being diligently and appropriately addressed according to current, evidence-based Canadian guidelines by Dr. Sawal, enabling patients to more freely engage in making consistently informed, conscious, and positive decisions about their daily diet, overall nutrition, optimal hydration, and mindful eating habits for sustained energy and peak physical health.
• Overcoming or managing unexplained significant weight loss or gain that needs to be investigated by a doctor is a common patient journey at Dr. Sawal's practice. The focus is on enabling successfully and permanently quitting smoking, vaping, or significantly reducing harmful substance use with the consistent, non-judgmental, evidence-based support, counseling, and resources provided by Dr. Sawal, so that engaging in feeling consistently rested, fully alert, and cognitively sharp enough to drive safely and defensively for both short daily commutes and much longer, more demanding road trips or family vacations becomes a reality again.
• Through Dr. Sawal's guidance, patients with their teenager expressing concerns about their body image or eating habits often find they can achieve their entire family having a central, trusted, and welcoming medical home base with Dr. Sawal and the clinic team, which greatly simplifies their healthcare journey and provides a sense of security and belonging and once again pursue confidently and effectively advocating for their own complex health needs, specific treatment preferences, and the essential healthcare requirements of their family members when interacting within the broader, sometimes impersonal, healthcare system.

Your personalized healthcare plan, developed in discussion with Dr. Sawal, will be thoughtfully designed to help you reach your specific functional, preventative, and wellness objectives. He believes in empowering patients with the knowledge and support needed to take an active role in their health journey.

Dr. Sawal's practice at Pacific Highway Medical is situated in the Newton, Sullivan Station neighborhood of Surrey. The clinic is conveniently located near Future SkyTrain Extension and is accessible via TransLink (SkyTrain Expo Line, Bus). Street parking and nearby public or paid lots typically offer convenient options for visitors.

What exactly is a family doctor (Family Doctor) and what is their role?

A family doctor (BC) is a physician who has completed post-graduate training in family medicine. He is skilled in providing continuous and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance, and preventive services to patients of all ages. This includes diagnosing and treating a vast array of illnesses, managing complex long-term health conditions, offering health education and counseling on lifestyle choices, and acting as your advocate and guide within the broader healthcare system.

Is seeing a family doctor (Family Doctor) covered by Medical Services Plan (MSP) of BC in BC?

Medically necessary visits to a family doctor are typically covered by the Medical Services Plan (MSP) of BC for eligible residents with a valid provincial health card. However, some services (e.g., cosmetic procedures, most travel medicine consultations, sick notes for work/school, insurance forms, driver's medicals) may not be covered and might have an associated fee. Please confirm with Pacific Highway Medical if you have questions about specific non-insured services or potential fees.

Do I need a referral to see a family doctor (Family Doctor) in BC?

Generally, you do not need a referral to see a family doctor if the doctor is accepting new patients. However, finding a family doctor who is accepting new patients can be challenging. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC website may have a "Find a Doctor" tool. You can also ask for recommendations or contact local community health centres. A referral is usually required to see specialists.

What happens if Dr. Sawal determines I need to see a medical specialist?

Dr. Sawal will explain why a specialist consultation is necessary and will arrange the referral, sending your medical details. The specialist's office will contact you to book the appointment. Keep Pacific Highway Medical informed of any specialist appointments and new diagnoses or treatments.

How long do appointments with Dr. Sawal typically last?

Typically, appointments last 10 to 15 minutes. New patients, physical exams, or complex matters may require 30-minute appointments. Inform the reception staff when booking.

How can I find a family doctor (Family Doctor) in BC who is accepting new patients?

Check the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC website for a "Find a Doctor" tool. Ask friends, family, or colleagues for recommendations. Contact local community health centres or new patient clinics. It may take time to find a doctor.

What does 'preventative care' involve with a family doctor like Dr. Sawal?

Preventative care focuses on keeping you healthy and identifying potential problems early. This includes routine check-ups, age-appropriate cancer screenings, immunizations, blood pressure and cholesterol checks, diabetes screening, counseling on healthy lifestyle choices, and risk assessments. The goal is to prevent illness and promote long-term health.

Pacific Highway Medical
17660 65A Ave, Unit 106, Pacific Highway Medical Clinic
Surrey, BC, V3S 5N4

Phone: (604) 372-0166 | Website: http://www.pacifichwymedical.com/

Dr. Pankaj Mohan Sawal is regulated by the Health Professions Act (British Columbia) in BC and is a registered member in good standing with The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC).

Registration Number: 66227

Verify registration with The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC): https://www.cpsbc.ca/public/registrant-directory/search-result/342910/Sawal%2CPankaj

Family doctors like Dr. Sawal are skilled in managing a wide range of health issues. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your family doctor about all aspects of your health, including any treatments received from other practitioners.