Our Heritage | Singapore General Hospital

The Bowyer Block opened in 1926. Its clock tower section still stands today, an enduring symbol of the Hospital's rich heritage.

SGH had its beginnings in 1821, when the first General Hospital was located in the cantonment for troops near the Singapore River. After relocating several times, it finally settled at Sepoy Lines in Outram Road in 1882.

The modern history of SGH began on 29 March 1926, with the opening of 800 beds in the Bowyer, Stanley and Norris Blocks. Today, only the Bowyer Block with its distinctive clock tower remains. It has been designated a national monument.

In 1981, the hospital was rebuilt, with its current 8-block complex housing inpatient wards, ambulatory and support services, as well as research laboratories and a postgraduate medical institute.

On 1 April 1989, SGH became a restructured hospital - run as a private company while remaining a not-for-profit institution wholly owned by the government. This was part of the government’s initiative to enable all public hospitals to be more responsive to the rapid pace of change in healthcare services and patient expectations for better service. To ensure access to affordable healthcare, two thirds of the beds in SGH are allocated to patients who receive subsidies from the government for medical services.

On 31 March 2000, following a major reorganisation of the public sector healthcare services, SGH came under the management of Singapore Health Services or SingHealth. The Group includes 1 other hospital, 5 National Specialty Centres and 9 Polyclinics.

On 5 Feb 2016, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the SGH Campus Masterplan to redeveloped the 43-hectare campus into 3 interconnected zones for patient care, research and education. The Master Plan wil;l be implemented in two key phases over the next two decades, including relocating SGH closer to MRT station and a new road network to the Campus.

Our Story

The history of SGH intertwines with historical events in Singapore. While addressing public healthcare has always been its core function, it has responded to other needs such as caring for soldiers during World War II, attending to victims of riots and other national disasters as well as training th

The Early Years

The birth of modern Singapore is inextricably linked to the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles on 28 January, 1819. Two years after his arrival, the foundation stone for the first general hospital was laid.

War And Awakening

The Japanese occupation forces took over the General Hospital for use by their troops in Southeast Asia. However, the disruption from the war brought about a paradigm shift in the local medical community. With the expatriate doctors interned by the Japanese during the war, local doctors and staff a

Walking With The Nation

As the country was gripped by events like Konfrontasi, the Maria Hertogh riots, the Pulau Senang prison riot and the Hock Lee Bus protests, SGH continued to treat their respective victims.

Settling at Sepoy Lines

The Singapore General Hospital till today is still remembered as "See Pai Poh" because of its late 19th century relocation to Sepoy Lines, which came to designate the locality around the General Hospital.

Envisioning Our Destiny

Just five years after gaining independence, Singapore was actively exploring avenues of economic development to ensure its sustainability. Initiatives were underway to make Singapore a liveable city, and healthcare systems and services had to keep pace with modern advances across the globe.

200 Years And Beyond

SGH has undergone numerous transformations since its establishment nearly 200 years ago to keep up with the needs of Singaporeans. The iconic Bowyer Block, a National Monument in recognition of its national significance and rich history, is a standing reminder of how far we have come in advancing p