About Us

The Swedish Mission Hospital at Thirupattur was started in 1909 by Dr.F.Kugelberg, a Swedish Eye Doctor. The land was gifted by the Raja of Sivagangai. It was patronized by Raja Sir Annamalai chettiar and also other wealthy families from the chettiar community. A host of Swedish doctors dedicated their service to the upliftment of this once backward area. The campus was gradually handed over to the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) and run by Indian doctors after Independence. The campus houses a nursing college and a blind school aswell. But due to shortage of doctors and financial constraints, this once reputed institution has been closed down.

In 2008, then Union Home Minister of India Shri. P. Chidambaram patronised to give life to this glorious hospital, roped in Vidiocon Industries to support the revival through their Corporate Social Responsibility. The hospital was renovated with keeping the oldest historical structures intact and was made open to public on 8th February 2014.

• 1904 : The first mission hospital of SM was established in Pattukkottai of Tanjore district.
• 1909 : Eye hospital was established at Tirupattur by Dr. Frederick Kugelberg.
• 1921 : Dr. S Gurubatham, former Health Minister of Madras province, joined SMH and got trained under Dr. Frederick Kugelberg.
• 1926 : The nursing department and a nursing school was established at SMH that helped in the in-house promotion of qualified and dedicated human resource.
• 1949 : A full-fledged medical laboratory was established that helped in meeting the internal demand for quality laboratory tests and investigations. This unit had also served as a resource centre by rendering training to many students and deserving youths.
• 1950 : The Administration of SMH was transferred to the Church mission of TELC to be governed by the medical board of TELC.
• 1968 : A formal leprosy eradication program was started by SMH to provide medical and surgical treatment for leprosy affected people covering various villages in and around Tirupattur.
• 1990 : SMH was recognised by the government of TN under the ‘Operation Polio’ program, as one of the five centres in the state to provide a comprehensive treatment for polio.
• 1991:  SMH launched Comprehensive Community Health Program that enabled SMH to cover more and more poor and needy people through HCs established for providing awareness, preventive and other health related services.
• 2008: The hospital renovation was launched with the support of Videocon Industries under the patronage of Hon’ble Shri.P.Chidambaram, Finance Minister of India
• 2014 : The renovated hospital was inaugurated by Hon’ble Shri.P.Chidambaram, Finance Minister of India, on 8th February.
• 2017: Colloborated with National Program for Control of Blindness in 2017
• 2019: The Hospital started a Dental Clinic Services.