Saint Louis Hospital in Bangkok marks 128 years of faith-driven healthcare

Saint Louis Hospital in Bangkok marked its 128th anniversary on Sept. 15, celebrating its history as Thailand's first nonprofit private medical center. The anniversary theme, Sending Love, Serving with Heart, highlighted the institution's long-standing mission of providing medical care through charitable service.

Bishop Jean-Louis Vey founded the hospital on Sept. 15, 1898, naming it after Saint Louis, King of France. The bishop assigned the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres to manage the hospital and nursing care. Seven sisters originally traveled from Saigon, Vietnam, to assist with the hospital's early administration.

The hospital now functions as a 412-bed tertiary medical center offering specialized services such as cardiac care, orthopedic and rehabilitation services, diagnostic imaging, and women's and children's health. It also operates the Divine Mercy Centre, which provides palliative and end-of-life care alongside emotional and spiritual support tailored to each patient's tradition. The facility previously hosted Pope John Paul II in 1984 and Pope Francis in 2019.