History
In the early days, the hospital offered medical service free of charge to those who could not afford it, with funding provided by local merchants. That tradition continues today.
The hospital played a major role in the SARS epidemic which made its way from Guangdong province to Hong Kong early in 2003. On February 21, Liu Jianlun, a 64-year-old a Chinese doctor who had treated cases of SARS in Guangdong arrived in Hong Kong to attend a wedding. He checked into the Metropole Hotel (the ninth floor - room 911). Although he had developed symptoms on February 15, he felt well enough to travel, shop, and sight-see with his brother-in-law. On February 22 he sought urgent care at the Kwong Wah Hospital and was admitted to the intensive care unit. He died on March 4. About 80% of the Hong Kong cases have been traced back to this doctor. On February 25, the 53-year-old brother-in-law of the Guangdong doctor came to the Kwong Wah Hospital. He was not admitted that day but his illness worsened, and he was admitted on March 1. He died on March 19.
Read more about this topic: Kwong Wah Hospital
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