VISAKHAPATNAM: King George Hospital, which started its journey as a civil hospital in Vizagapatam district in 1923, will complete 100 years of existence this year. But few know about KGH’s humble beginning as a civil dispensary in 1845.
In December 1841, the then provincial government in Madras sanctioned dispensaries in towns of present-day Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Machilipatnam, Bellary and Kadapa on an experimental basis. It desired not to open any new dispensaries until they were satisfied with the results of those already sanctioned. Till then, the British regime was of the opinion that medical care of common people was not their concern. They were concerned only about the health of European and native army regiments and their company officials for whom hospitals and dispensaries were established at Madras and other military stations. They were called garrison hospitals and run by army doctors. There used to be a garrison hospital in present old town area in Visakhapatnam too. The dispensaries that were later established for natives were called civil dispensaries.
History buff and heritage conservationist Vijjeswarapu Edward Paul recalls that applications were sent from Salem, Calicut, Kurnool, and Vizagapatam requesting for establishment of such civil dispensaries at these places, around 1843. “The Madras