The 105th Anniversary of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital: Proud of Our Past, Preparing for Our Future

Abstract

King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital is operated by the Thai Red Cross Society, and serves as the teaching hospital for the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and the Thai Red Cross College of Nursing. The establishment of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital was initiated by King Vajiravudh, who, together with his brothers and sisters, wished to repay his father’s generosity. In the reign of King Chulalongkorn, His Majesty had given royal permission to set up the Red Unalom Society of Siam, the purpose of which was to offer examination and treatment to the sick in accordance with practices in other civilized nations. But as the predecessor of the
Thai Red Cross Society had not fully reached the state of completion, King Vajiravudh and other sons and daughters of King Chulalongkorn deemed it necessary to continue their father’s determination to help sick
people in honor of the Kingdom of Siam. His Majesty King Vajiravudh and princes and princesses, sons and
daughters of King Chulalongkorn, all donated their personal money and property to the Thai Red Cross budget for the construction of a hospital. On May 30, 1914, His Majesty King Vajiravudh graciously presided over the opening ceremony of the hospital and gave permission to the Thai Red Cross Society to name the hospital after his father.