Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital

The 10 Largest Hospitals In The World

A hospital is an institution that provides specialized medical and surgical treatment as well as proper nursing care for sick and injured persons. Hospitals offer round-the-clock treatment for patients suffering from major injuries, urgent health problems, sudden illness, and rare diseases. Some also serve as educational institutions where health science students and allied healthcare professionals can learn and develop their skills, in turn providing a crucial base for further research and advancement of medical science. With many healthcare institutions completely running out of beds during the coronavirus pandemic, the size and bed capacity of hospitals has come into public focus more than ever. The following article lists the 10 largest hospitals in the world ranked by their number of beds.  

1. First Affiliated Hospital Of Zhengzhou University, China – 7,000 beds

First Affiliated Hospita. Image credit: Windmemories via Wikimedia Commons.

The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University is currently the world’s biggest hospital having a capacity of around 7,000 beds and providing annual revenues of more than 7.5 billion Yuan. The hospital was initially established in September 1928 in the then capital of China’s Henan Province - Kaifeng and was an affiliated hospital of Henan University Medical College. In 1958, the hospital was relocated to the present capital of Henan Province – Zhengzhou, and was rechristened as the “First Affiliated Hospital of Henan Medical College.” In 1985, it was again renamed the “First Affiliated Hospital of Henan Medical University.” With support from the Central Government, the Henan Medical University, Zhengzhou University, and Zhengzhou Institute of Technology merged, renaming the hospital as the “First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University.” The hospital is, at present, China’s largest Level-3/Grade-A hospital that integrates medical treatment and scientific research providing the highest standard of medical care.

2. West China Medical Center, China – 4,300 beds

Sichuan University’s West China Medical Center is the world’s second-largest hospital having a capacity of 4,300 beds. The hospital is located in the downtown area of Chengdu along the shores of the Jin River. Although initially founded in 1914 by Western missionaries as the private West China Union University, the center merged with the Sichuan University in 2000 and is presently administered by the country’s Ministry of Education. Currently, the institution has four affiliated teaching hospitals and five schools. It is also the country’s largest hospital containing 25 open laboratories, 36 clinical departments, and 15 medical technology departments catering to over 3.5 million outpatients and 173,000 inpatients. The center also has cooperative agreements with more than 150 universities in 43 nations.

3. National Center For Mental Health, Philippines – 4,200 beds

Entrance to the National Center for Mental Health in Philippines.

The National Center for Mental Health is the world’s third-largest hospital having a capacity of 4,200 beds. This PhilHealth-accredited psychiatric hospital occupies an area of 47 hectares in the city of Mandaluyong, situated in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. The hospital was established on December 17, 1928, to take care of a large number of mental patients and other patients with related nervous system disorders, who were previously being treated by the country’s other two hospitals – the City Sanitarium and the San Lazaro Hospital. 

4. Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan – 4,000 beds

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Guishan District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan. Image credit: Imccgmh, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Also referred to as Chang Gung Hospital, the Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital is the world’s fourth-largest hospital having a capacity of 4,000 beds. It is also Taiwan’s largest hospital that is situated in Taoyuan City’s Guishan District. The hospital forms a part of the hospital network of the Chang Gung Medical Foundation. Initially established in 1978, the Chang Gung Hospital focuses on several medical facilities. This renowned hospital receives over 8.2 million outpatients, 2.4 million inpatients, and 167,460 surgical patients annually. The Chang Gung Hospital is also known for completing more than 1,000 successful liver transplant operations. 

5. Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Turkey – 3,810 beds

Ankara bilkent city hospital
The Ankara Bilkent City Hospital. Editorial credit: Bogac Erkan / Shutterstock.com

Ankara Bilkent City Hospital is the world’s fifth-largest hospital having a capacity of 3,810 beds. Officially opened on March 14, 2019, this full-service city hospital is situated in the Cankaya district’s Bilkent quarter in the Turkish capital city of Ankara. Being the country’s largest hospital, it occupies a land area of 0.18 sq. km and contains 131 operating rooms, 1,554 single-bed rooms, 725 double-bed rooms, 904 polyclinics, 82 VIP rooms, and 700 Intensive Care Units. Each day, the hospital provides treatment to over 8,000 emergency patients. In addition, there are 38 beds in the dialysis clinic and a 100-bed Medical Observation Clinic within the hospital premises. The campus also has two helipads to facilitate the landing of patient-carrying ambulance helicopters safely.

6. National Hospital Of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka – 3,404 beds

National hospital of Sri Lanka
People gather outside emergency services of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Editorial credit: Ajit Wick / Shutterstock.com

It is the world's sixth-largest hospital having a capacity of 3,404 beds. Established in 1864 as a "General Hospital," the National Hospital of Sri Lanka is at present the country's premier hospital that is managed by the Central Government. Occupying an area of 36 acres in Colombo, this hospital has 21 operating theaters and 18 intensive care units, treating over 2 million patients yearly and conducting 5,000 major and minor surgeries monthly. 

7. Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, South Africa – 3,200 beds

Main entrance to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa.

It is the world's seventh-largest and Africa's largest hospital having a capacity of 3,200 beds. This hospital is spread over an area of 170 acres in the Soweto township to the south of Johannesburg. The Gauteng Provincial Health Department finances and manages the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, which is also one of the 40 Gauteng Provincial Hospitals. The hospital also serves as one of the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School's teaching hospitals.

8. Qasr El Eyni Hospital, Egypt – 3,200 beds

Qasr El Eyni Hospital in Egypt. Editorial credit: Nora_n_0_ra / Shutterstock.com

Qasr El Eyni Hospital is the world’s eighth-largest hospital having a capacity of 3,200 beds. This research and teaching hospital is situated in Cairo. The hospital is affiliated with Cairo University’s Qasr El Eyni Faculty of Medicine and managed by Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population. 

9. Clinical Centre Of Serbia, Serbia – 3,150 beds

Clinical centre of siberia
The Clinical Centre of Serbia.

The Clinical Centre of Serbia is the world’s ninth-largest hospital having a capacity of 3,150 beds. Situated in the city of Belgrade, this academic medical center serves as the city’s as well as Serbia’s principal medical center. The Clinical Centre of Serbia contains a total of 41 organizational units. The Clinical Centre is spread over an area of 34 hectares, comprising 50 buildings having a total floor space of 280,000 sq. m. The number of beds in this hospital is considered to be the highest in Europe, where more than 1 million patients are treated yearly, with more than 7,000 childbirths and 50,000 surgeries being performed annually. 

10. Government Medical College, Kozhikode, India – 3,025 beds

Kozhikode’s Government Medical College is the world’s tenth-largest hospital having a capacity of 3,025 beds. Also referred to as Calicut Medical College, this medical school is situated about 8 km east of the heart of the city of Kozhikode in the Indian State of Kerala. Established in 1957, it is at present India’s largest hospital and Kerala’s second medical college. It is also one of the country’s biggest medical colleges spread over an area of 1.1 sq. km. 

The 20 Largest Hospitals In The World

Rank Hospital Name Capacity Location
1 First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University 7,000 Henan, China
2 West China Medical Center 4,300 Chengdu, China
3 National Center for Mental Health 4,200 Mandaluyong, Philippines
4 Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital 4,000 Taoyuan City, Taiwan
5 Ankara Bilkent City Hospital 3,810 Ankara, Turkey
6 National Hospital of Sri Lanka 3,404 Colombo, Sri Lanka
7 Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital 3,200 Johannesburg, South Africa
8 Qasr El Eyni Hospital 3,200 Cairo, Egypt
9 Clinical Centre of Serbia 3,150 Belgrade, Serbia
10 Government Medical College, Kozhikode 3,025 Kozhikode, India
11 Taipei Veterans General Hospital 3,000 Taipei, Taiwan
12 Ahmedabad Civil Hospital 2,800 Ahmedabad, India
13 Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital 2,722 Chennai, India
14 Asan Medical Center 2,715 Seoul, South Korea
15 Istanbul Basaksehir City Hospital 2,682 Istanbul, Turkey
16 Amrita Hospital 2,600 Faridabad, India
17 Government Rajaji Hospital 2,518 Madurai, India
18 Hospital das Clinicas da Universidade de Sao Paulo 2,500 Sao Paulo, Brazil
19 Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2,500 Beijing, China
20 Severance Hospital 2,437 Seoul, South Korea
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