Singapore is a world-famous city known for its iconic transformation from a small trading port to a global financial hub with a number of accolades. But Singapore wasn’t always the high-tech city that it is today, with clean streets, vast gardens, and top-rated attractions. Of course, this extends to healthcare because did you know Singapore General Hospital (SGH) began as a modest wooden shed before becoming the world-class facility it is today?
History of the first General Hospital in Singapore
The first General Hospital in Singapore was founded in 1821 as a wooden shed at Bras Basah Road. Interestingly, it was formed in the British military cantonment and mainly served European soldiers, sepoys, and local inhabitants. According to records, the early years were marked by basic facilities, a shortage of trained staff, and frequent outbreaks of diseases like cholera and smallpox.
Singapore’s first hospital was rebuilt and relocated several times in its first decades due to poor construction and changing needs. By 1845, the hospital had moved to Pearl’s Hill, and then to Kandang Kerbau in 1860, followed by relocation to Outram Road in 1882. Allegedly, the wooden hospital shed only began to admit women for the first time in the 1860s.
In 1882, the hospital gradually expanded its services when it settled at Sepoy Lines along Outram Road. The site was chosen for its central location and better drainage which reduced the risk of disease outbreaks. Here, nursing care was introduced for the first time by the nuns from a nearby French convent. Meanwhile, the hospital evolved from primarily serving military and European needs to providing care for the wider population in Singapore.
Did it evolve in the 20th century?
By 1926, the modern era of Singapore General Hospital began with the opening of a new 800-bed facility comprising the Bowyer, Stanley, and Norris Blocks. This expansion led the way for a new standard of healthcare for Singaporeans of all backgrounds. Meanwhile, the hospital was able to serve the general local population, as well as seamen, soldiers, and colonial officials – no matter race or social status.
Additionally, the hospital became a key training ground for local doctors and nurses. Particularly, these trainings took place in the Bowyer Block under the iconic clock tower, which now houses the famous SGH Museum.
Singapore hospitals today
SGH has grown into Singapore’s flagship hospital and a leading medical institution in Asia. Today, Singapore has 11 public acute hospitals, several community hospitals, and one psychiatric hospital, alongside a growing network of private hospitals and specialty centres. In fact, Singapore’s hospitals are recognised among the best in the world.
Singapore’s hospital evolution from a wooden shed, mirrors the broader transformation of the healthcare system in the city-state, from colonial-era welfare models to today’s high-quality healthcare with sustainable outcomes.