Penang General Hospital

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Other Hospitals in Penang

Gleneagles Medical Centre

Island Hospital

Lam Wah Ee Hospital

Loh Guan Lye Specialist Centre

Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital

Pantai Hospital

Penang Adventist Hospital

Penang Specialist Maternity Centre

Tropicana Medical Centre

Penang General Hospital, now known as Hospital Pulau Pinang and previously as Hospital Besar Pulau Pinang, is the biggest public hospital in Penang. It is located along Jalan Residensi, with various departments sprawled on the opposite side of the road as well as along Jalan Sepoy Lines. As a public hospital, it provides health care and emergency treatment for all illnesses and accidents.

Penang General Hospital (8 March 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

The Penang General Hospital traces its history to the Pauper's Hospital started by Mun Ah Foo, a leader of the Ghee Hin Society. The aim of the hospital was to provide healthcare to the poor and needy as well as rehabiliation for opium smokers. After Mun Ah Foo had passed on, the Pauper's Hospital continued to be managed by a committee headed by Governor Archibald Anson, with representations from the Chinese clan associations, guilds and other pillars of 19th century society. During this period, the Leper Hospital was relocated to Pulau Jerejak, where it functioned until the mid 20th century.

Penang General Hospital (8 March 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

The General Hospital building dates back to 1882. Within the grounds of the hospital stands a monument commemorating the donars to the hospital, which count among them both the Ghee Hin as well as Tua Pek Kong Kongsi in 1879 - a rare show of cooperation between two otherwise antagonistic societies that fought each other just a decade before, Tan Beng Swee, Noordin & Shaik Yousoof, various members of the Merican family, and even the King of Siam. At that time, there was racial segregation. Hence Europeans and non-Europeans had separate wards. The Ghee Hin Society further donated the land on which the hospital stands.

The relocation and construction of the Penang General Hospital complex dates from as early as the 1920's. Many of the roads laid out in the vicinity of the hospital during that period were also named after the doctors heading the various departments there, among them Ross Road and Tull Road. The original building eventually made way for the Nurses hostel, which was constructed in 1930.

Penang General Hospital (8 March 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

The Maternity Hospital, Dental Hospital and Children's Hospital were added to the complex in the 20th century, and are located on the Sepoy Lines Road side of Jalan Residensi.