The Early Malay Doctors: Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZ2)

Sunday, 10 August 2014

Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZ2)

Synonyms
General Hospital Kota Bharu (GHKB)
Hospital Besar Kota Bharu (HBKB)
Hospital Kota Bharu (HKB)
Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZ2) - 5 Sept 2005 till present

Hospital Director: Dr Ghazali Hasni bin Md Hassan
Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II
Jalan Hospital
15000 Kota Bharu
Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia
Phone: 09-745 2000
Email: hrpz2@klt.moh.gov.my
Website: http://hrpz2.moh.gov.my
Facebook: HRPZ2
History of HRPZ2
Founded: 1 January 1920

Introduction

British Doctors in Kelantan

Kota Bharu had British medical doctors at the turn of the century. Their names have been published in a local newspaper and a book written by Dr JD Gimlette, Malay Poisons and Charms. One of the early British officers in Kelantan left behind 2 photo albums in the hands of the late then Sultan, which are now kept by Muzium Kelantan. I have reproduced some of the photos of the British doctors from Muzium Kelantan as shown below. These photos are cropped and edited by me in Zoner Photo Studio 15.

Refer page 328 in Biography of the Early Malay Doctors 1900-1957 Malaya and Singapore.

History of GHKB / HRPZ2
(Taken and edited from its Facebook, 10 August 2014)

Kota Bharu General Hospital began its operations in the 1920s. The building was situated just off the town of Kota Bharu which is now the Kota Bharu Municipal Council building (bangunan MPKB). The early hospital building consists of two buildings, a building known as the "European Ward" and another building was allocated for the people of Kelantan.

From me: Dr Ali Othman Merican @ Mohomed Ally Merican (Dr AO Merican, b.1890-d.1945) was the first Penang Malay doctor. He moved to Kelantan in 1927 and set up private practice called the Dispensary, at Jalan Hulu Pasar, close to the then Pasar Besar Kota Bharu. The clinic was within walking distance from the then hospital (on MPKB ground). There was no piped water in Kota Bharu in 1927, water had to be carried from a well behind the clinic for use in the market. Little boys were hired to carry buckets of water from the well to the fresh market. Piped water was only available in Kota Bharu from 1939 onwards.

Services provided at that time was of Medicine and Surgery and cases are placed in a ward, and this included maternity cases. At the same time the new hospital building began and was completed in 1938.

Total members who served at that time consisted of two doctors, ~~Dr Gimlet~~ Dr JD Gimlette as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and assisted by Dr Mark Loi. Support members consisted of a Hospital Supervisor, 5 Dressers (Administrative Assistants), a Matron and four nurses.

From me: One of the Dressers was Mr Timothy Wong, a millionaire, whose family resided at Jalan Hamzah in Kota Bharu. His grave is at the Christian cemetery in front of KB Mall.

In 1938 the transfer from the thatched-roof hospital (hospital atap) to a new brick hospital starts in stages, except for the maternity ward (now Mother And Child Health Clinic at Kota Bharu). The transfer was completed in 1950.

The new Kota Bharu General Hospital building was fully operational in 1938, with eight wards and services offered that have been improved. These services are Medical / Surgical / Veneral Diseases Ward (VD) / Leprosy Ward (LW), and the last ward that moved in here was the Maternity Ward.

In the same year (1938), the Kota Bharu General Hospital had a surgeon, Dr KD Fraser - he was the first surgeon working for the Kelantan State.

In December 1938, the war broke out when the Japanese forces entered Kota Bharu. They used the hospital as a base for a week and they recognized Kota Bharu General Hospital workers. At that time Dr Evan (CMO) and Dr Fraser (Surgeon) had left Kota Bharu and were heading to Singapore. ~~Indirectly,~~ In the interim, Dr RS Arurampalam served as CMO.

From me: Dr AO Merican had passed away in Kota Bharu on 17 June 1945, before the end of the Second World War (WWII). He is laid to rest at the Kelantan royal cemetery in Langgar, Kota Bharu.

Post-war

After losing the ~~First~~ Second World War (WWII) in ~~1943~~ 1945, Japan left Kota Bharu. In early ~~1944~~ 1945 the administration of Kota Bharu General Hospital was taken over by the British Medical Army (BMA) under the administration of Dr Major Flowski. He administered the hospital for one year and handed over to Dr Evan in 1946 followed by Dr Gibson in 1948, and Dr Issac until the year 1950.

From me: Dr MJ Che Lah was an early Malay doctor who served in Kota Bharu after the war. He was the Medical Officer, MO (LA) Grade I, at the Civil General Hospital Kuala Lumpur on 21 September 1945. He was transferred to Kota Bharu where he served as Health Officer (HO) Grade I on 11 December 1945. He was earning $5,640 per annum ($470 per month). Four months later, Dr Che Lah worked at the State Hospital in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. He served as Medical Director (MD) Grade I on 30 April 1946 and his salary was raised to $5,820 per annum ($485 per month). Dr Che Lah was then transferred and worked in the Health Department, Malayan Railway Administration, in Kuala Lumpur as the Acting Health Officer on 21 June 1946.

In 1950 Dr RE Anderson took over position from Dr Issac as CMO. He began planning the new hospital development. A nurses hostel building was erected where Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) clinic is located now. He also eliminated the "European Ward". In the 1950s, services were enhanced.

Post-Merdeka

Meanwhile, dental care services were organized and launched by Al-Sultan Yahya Petra, the son of the late Al-Sultan Ibrahim.

As a result of rise in tuberculosis (TB), in 1958, the TB ward construction started and was inaugurated on 5 June 1961 (21 Muharram 1380) by His Majesty Yahya Petra, son of the late Sultan Al-Ibrahim.

Malaysian Hospital Directors

Kota Bharu Hospital in this millennium, continues to forge ahead towards excellence under the leadership of a competent director, starting with Dato' Dr Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Kechik, followed by Dr Husayn bin Othman, Dr Mary Abraham, and then Y Bhg Datin Dr Hajah Aesah @ Zaharah bt Haji Awang, Dr Mohamad bin Ismail, and now Dr Ghazali Hasni bin Md Hassan.

Progress of Hospital

Under their leadership, Kota Bharu Hospital continues to move scaling up success after success in 2002, Kota Bharu Hospital received the Prime Minister Quality Award (Public Sector) and the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Special Award for quality day. Kota Bharu Hospital success etched, not only at the national level but also made a name at the International level, where in 2004, Kota Bharu got CONFRAC certified by the National French and Certification BS EN ISO 9001: 2000 (UKAS) by the United Kingdom.

Indeed, the excellent history of the Kota Bharu Hospital established itself as a reputable and distinguished institution to date. Therefore it is very appropriate if the hospital is recognized by its new name that is Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II on 5th September 2005.

Hospital Renaming (5 September 2005)

Kota Bharu Hospital Renaming Opening Ceremony to Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kota Bharu was executed by His Majesty the Sultan of Kelantan, Tuanku Ismail Petra, son of the late Sultan Yahya Petra, on Monday, 5 September 2005 (1 Sha'ban 1426 Hijrah), located in the forecourt of Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

From me: The old MPKB market building was demolished in October 2011 and a modern condominium now stands in its place in 2014. The condominium is within walking distance of the HRPZ2.