--Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital--

About Us

Our History & Heritage

History and Heritage

Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital (KWSH) is one of the oldest charitable healthcare institutions in Singapore, founded in 1910 by a group of Cantonese merchants, whose aim was to provide Cantonese immigrants from China with free in-patient and out-patient services. Through the Kwong Wai Shiu Free Hospital Ordinance, a 6-acre piece of land, along with 3 colonial-styled buildings, was parcelled off from Tan Tock Seng Hospital and given to KWSH to run a hospital for 99 years.

Although outpatient services have always been available to all races, inpatient facilities were initially only for Cantonese people. In 1974, the Constitution of KWSH was changed to allow people of all races to be admitted . While we preserve our proud legacy of compassion and care, we will keep up with the evolving healthcare needs of the nation and position ourselves to serve Singaporeans better.

Our Milestones

1910	Inception of Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital (KWSH) as an In-patient institution
1954	Maternity ward, Hostel and Kitchen was built
1958	Front Block was built
1974	KWSH opened doors to all races
1999	Established Total Quality Management Committee
1999	Established Infection Control Committee
2000	Established Volunteer Programmes
2001	Opened Physiotherapy Department
2001	Hospital Section relocated to Ward 2
2001	Opened Day Rehabilitation Centre
2002	Engagement of external Geriatrician to conduct Multi-disciplinary Patient Care conference
2003	Introduced Occupational Therapy Programmes
2004	Attained ITE's ‘On-the-job Training Centre' & ‘Approved Training Centre' statuses
2004	Established Training Centre
2004	Built Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Centre
2004	Celebrated 94th anniversary with largest-scale Free TCM Consultation Day. Event was launched by Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Health
2004	Set up Medical Advisory Committee
2005	Embarked on renovation of OPD
2005	Embarked on preparation for ISO 9001 accreditation
2005	Celebrated 95th Anniversary with Free TCM Consultation and Health Screening. Event was launched by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development
2006	Set up Geriatric Rehabilitation Ward in collaboration with Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH)
2006	Awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification
2006	Became a part of Singapore's Community Heritage Trail
2006	Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng agrees to be Patron
2006	Celebrated 96th Anniversary with Free TCM Consultation, Health Screening & Health Forums. Event was officiated by DPM Wong Kan Seng
2007	Set up Cancer Step-Down Care Ward in collaboration with National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS)
2007	Awarded Community Hospital status
2007	Set up TCM Sub-Health Clinic
2007	Opened KWSH-NCCS Oncology Clinic
2007	Commemorated KWSH 97th Anniversary
2008	Initiated Community Outreach Programme with a Public Forum on 'Chronic Pain: Dealing with Neck and Back Pain'
2008	Organised the first Seminar for TCM Physicians on 'Diagnosis of Spinal Cord Diseases' in collaboration with Zhongda Hospital of Nanjing's Southeast University
2008	Staff sent to the University Of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for rehabilitation management observership
2008	Celebrated 98th Anniversary with free health Screenings and Public Health Forum 'Your Lungs and You'. Event was officiated by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Manpower
2009	Partnered LASALLE College of the Arts to introduce Art Therapy for its Day Rehabilitation Centre patients.
2009	Embarked on a series of free health talks and health checks were conducted with free TCM treatments as part of ongoing Community Outreach Programme held regularly at Community Centres.
2009	Achieved recertification of ISO 9001: 2000 to ISO 9001: 2008
2009	First charity hospital in Singapore to implement 'TCM Adhesive Therapy on Acupoints' at the TCM Centre
2009	Celebrated 99th Anniversary with free eye screenings and public forum on 'Your Eyes and You' and 'Qigong and your Health'. Event was officiated by RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts