Tan Tock Seng, a Malaccan-born merchant and influential Chinese community leader well known for his philanthropy, founded the hospital on 25 July 1844. First located at Pearl’s Hill, it was initially known as the Chinese Pauper Hospital.
The Hospital served primarily the poor and destituted, who were a prime concern for Tan Tock Seng, the first local Asian to be appointed as a Chief of the Peace by the British.
The Hospital was twice relocated in 1858 and 1909 within the Balestier Road area. During the Japanese Occupation, it continued to serve as a military hospital for the Japanese invaders before being converted to a civilian one in 1943. It was renamed as the “Hakuai Byoin”, meaning the “Universal Love Hospital”. After the war, Tan Tock Seng Hospital was designated as the centre for tuberculosis or TB treatment. A significant phase in its history.
In 1961, the hospital became a government hospital, and was eventually restructured as an independent but government-funded hospital on 1st April 1992. By the end of the 20th century, the hospital has become the second largest general hospital in Singapore.
Conveniently located at the junction of Moulmein/ Thompson Roads, adjacent to the Novena MRT station, the new 15-storey hospital was officially opened on 1 April 2000.