The university was established in 1974 as Rawalpindi Medical College. It was initially affiliated with the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. In 2003, it became affiliated with the University of Health Sciences, Lahore. In May 2017, this college was upgraded to university status by the Government of Punjab, Pakistan. University offers undergraduate programs of MBBS and BSC Allied Health as well as post graduate residency and fellowship programs at its attached teaching hospitals. Three public sector hospitals are currently affiliated with the university, all of them are located in the city of Rawalpindi. These are Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital. Benazir Bhutto Hospital was previously known as Rawalpindi General Hospital. It was renamed in the honor of Benazir Bhutto, as she was pronounced dead in this hospital on 27 December 2007.
