Hospitals of yore: a brief historical review of hospitals in the early ages, early Christian era and Europe

Dr. Vardeep Singh Dhillon

Volume : V, Issue : IV, April - 2016

Hospitals of yore: a brief historical review of hospitals in the early ages, early Christian era and Europe

Dr. Vardeep Singh Dhillon

Abstract :

 History of hospitals is both, intriguing and remarkable. Earliest hospitals, located in Egypt, Greece and Rome were temples dedicated to Gods. Treatment in these temples was more or less ritualistic, intended to propitiate Gods and seek their blessings. With the advent of Christianity, the concept of social welfare gained ground. Church and clergy established institutions to house the poor, the elderly and the sick. Early European hospitals were appendages of monasteries and laid a greater emphasis on healing the soul. Later on, European noblemen built the hospitals as charitable institutions. After the French revolution, hospitals became secular and voluntary institutions funded by private donations. By nineteenth century state-run hospitals became de rigueur. With progress in medical science, European public hospitals became pioneers in the field of medical research and education.