Right here stands Raffles Hospital. It is more than just a building. It is a testament to Singapore’s commitment to healthcare excellence. Raffles Hospital is a tertiary care private hospital. It is part of the Raffles Medical Group. This group is a major private healthcare provider in Singapore. It is also significant in South-East Asia.
The hospital’s story began on September 12, 1997. Raffles Medical Group partnered with Pidemco Land. Their mission was to transform Blanco Court. Blanco Court was once an office and shopping complex. It was near Bugis MRT Station. Together, they envisioned the modern Raffles Hospital.
Officially, Raffles Hospital opened its doors on March 16, 2002. The honor of opening the hospital fell to former Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The building itself is quite interesting. Raffles Hospital has an L-shape. It covers an impressive 540,000 square feet. That is about 50,000 square meters. The hospital spans 13 floors. It cleverly retains the main structure of the old Blanco Court.
Raffles Hospital caters to diverse patient needs. Accommodation includes suites and private rooms. There are also double rooms. For those seeking cost-effective options, four-bedroom and six-bedroom facilities are available.
Raffles Hospital achieved accreditation from the Joint Commission International on December 13, 2008. This highlights its commitment to quality and safety.
The hospital is recognized for its excellence. In 2016, Frost & Sullivan Singapore Excellence Awards named Raffles Hospital as the Hospital of the Year. Newsweek rated it as the number 10 hospital in Singapore in 2020. Raffles Hospital has 380 in-patient beds.
Raffles Hospital offers a wide range of multispecialty clinics. They ensure patients receive top-quality care. As a preferred destination for medical tourism, Raffles Hospital welcomes patients from over 100 countries. This reinforces Singapore’s position as a healthcare hub in the region.
Inside Raffles Hospital, state-of-the-art facilities await. Highly trained medical professionals offer a complete suite of services. These include cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, neurology, and gastroenterology.
Founded in 1976, Raffles Medical Group has a long history. Doctors Loo Choon Yong and Alfred Loh started with two clinics in the Central Business District. By 1989, they had five clinics. They then formed the Raffles Medical Group.
In 1993, Raffles Medical opened Raffles SurgiCentre. It was the first standalone day surgery center in Southeast Asia. In 1995, the company established a 24-hour travel clinic in Changi Airport.
Today, Raffles Medical Group operates in 14 cities across Asia. It has over 50 medical clinics in Singapore. Raffles Hospital attracts international patients. Representative offices are located in several countries, including Cambodia and Vietnam.
In 2003, Raffles Medical launched Raffles Health. This subsidiary manufactures vitamins and health supplements. Other subsidiaries include Raffles Chinese Medicine and Raffles Dental.
However, the hospital’s story is also marked by tragedy. In 2003, Raffles Hospital was the site of a complex operation to separate Iranian twin sisters Laleh and Ladan Bijani. They were conjoined at the head. Sadly, both twins passed away after the surgery.
Raffles Hospital remains committed to providing quality medical care. It blends advanced technology with compassionate service. It stands as a beacon of healthcare in Singapore and beyond.