A brief history of UCH

Lahore’s first state-of-the-art hospital, UCH was first established in the premises of Forman Christian College (FC College) to provide medical facilities to the students, faculty and staff of the college.

In early 1960s it was shifted to Gulberge III. There was a time when people could see the cross that used to be illuminated in neon on Main Boulevard, Gulberg.

It was majestic and grand at that time, with American nurses and doctors and was a great training hospital for the Christian community.

According to a former resident of Lahore, Edgar Banta Ram who is now living in California, USA, United Christian Hospital used to be a place for ‘compassionate healing for the glory of God’.

It was established in 1948 by the missionaries living in Lahore in the hostels of the Forman Christian College (FC College). Later, it moved premises to Gulberg III in 1965.

The golden era of the hospital was till 1980, The first open heart surgery in Pakistan was conducted here by a Canadian American Surgeon Donald E. Bowes in 1968.

At that time the hospital, which had a well-equipped laboratory, provided training to nurses and its X-ray technicians worked (some are still working) all around the world, particularly in the Middle East.

However, after it fell on bad times due to lack of funds, the hospital had become almost non-functional — except for a couple of departments — due to lack of good doctors who are needed to bring in patients.

Banta Ram said the CJP had done a great service to the residents of Lahore, particularly Christians by taking up restoration of UCH that once provided the best health care facilities.