Founded in 1844 by philanthropist Tan Tock Seng, TTSH was first known as the Chinese Pauper Hospital and was located in Pearl's Hill. The hospital moved to its fourth and current location at Novena in 2000. Today, TTSH remains committed to its legacy of compassion, philanthropy and care and its duty as a people's hospital.
In 1844, Mr Tan stepped forward to gift 7,000 Spanish Dollars to build the first hospital for the poor. Back in those days, there were no proper medical facilities for the common people. Located on Pearl's Hill and first called the Chinese Pauper Hospital, Mr Tan made a call for the hospital to care not only the Chinese, but also the "sick poor of all nations".
Mr Tan died in 1850 at age 52. An obituary in the Singapore Free Press described him as one of Singapore's "earliest settlers as well as most wealthy inhabitants." The paper also praised his contribution as a Justice of Peace.
Much of his time was engrossed in acting as arbitrator in disputes between his countrymen, and many a case which would otherwise have afforded a rich harvest to the lawyers, was through his intervention and mediation nipped in the bud.
He left behind his widow Lee Seo Neo, who like him, was unstinting in her support of the hospital and paid for a female ward.
Through the years, many of our people - doctors, nurses, allied health, administrators, support - have helped the hospital to stay true to our Founder's calling. Today, we remain a people's hospital, one that was started by the community, is strongly supported by the community and always stands ready to care for the community.
The Birth of Geriatric Medicine
Did you know that just over 26 years ago, Geriatric Medicine as a service was non-existent in Singapore? The need for this specialty only came about after the Committee on the Problems of the Aged realised that Singapore's demographic pattern and life expectancy was changing profoundly!
Then and Now
From Pearl's Hill to Jalan Tan Tock Seng, the Chinese Pauper Hospital to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, find out how our hospital has changed over the last 175 years through these photos.
