Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center - Manila 6.04

Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, one of the oldest hospitals in the Philippines, founded during the Spanish occupation in the country from charitable donations of Chinese immigrants. One reason for the hospital's continuous growth and success is backed by the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association or PCCA, founded in 1878 when the Chinese community was established in Manila, Philippines.HistoryCapitan Carlos Palanca Tanchueco, with wealthy Chinese businessmen Chan Guan and Mariano Velasco did a fund-raising in 1891 for the construction of a medical clinic where treatment was free of charge. Through funds coming from Chinese stores and special fees from Chinese people who arrived from China, the medical clinic expanded into a hospital. In 1893, it was named "Hospital de Chinos".During the American colonization in 1898, Capitan Tanchueco became the first Chinese Acting Consul. Hospital de Chinos became inadequate for the swelling number of Chinese residents in Manila, Philippines. A fund raising campaign was done to construct the first Chinese General Hospital (CGH) with updated facilities in 1917. One of the most popular doctors during his time, Dr. Manuel Tee Han Kee became the first medical director and the new hospital was inaugurated in 1921. He also served as consultant for the Philippine Health Service because of his expertise in bubonic plague. Also in the same year when the Chinese General Hospital School of Nursing was also founded.The hospital's operation was affected during World War II. Directors and those with higher positions in the hospital became political prisoners of war, followed by mass evacuation. To keep the hospital functioning, the Principal, Chief Nurse, some graduate and some student nurses, two junior resident physicians, and some male helpers became the skeleton staff. In 1945, more than five hundred victims of shrapnel and bullets were admitted to the Chinese General Hospital, even occupying all available spaces in the corridors.