St. Stephen’s Hospital of Delhi: ItGrowth in the Colonial Era and Its Continued Evolution

St. Stephen’s Hospital in Delhi stands today as one of the oldest, largest, and most respected private hospitals in the capital, but its origins lie deep in the colonial period. Its growth reflects the vision and dedication of a group of English missionary women who sought to bring medical care to the underserved sections of Delhi’s population—especially women and children, who had limited access to healthcare in the mid-19th century.

St.Stephen’s Hospital, Delhi hexahealth.com

Postal stamp stampgallery.com

The hospital’s beginnings trace back to the Delhi Female Medical Mission, led by the remarkable Priscilla Winter. As early as 1864, the Mission’s workers distributed medicines along the banks of the Yamuna. Their efforts expanded into a small dispensary in a rented house in 1874, and by 1876, a formal dispensary had taken shape. The clear objective was to establish an institution dedicated to women’s health—a pioneering idea in an era when women’s medical needs were often neglected.

Postalcover.en.wikipedia.org

Above image: St.Stephen's hospital. Delhi. Commemorative centenary first day cover released in 1985..........

Lady Dufferin, en.wikipedia.org

Their dream materialized in 1885 when the St. Stephen’s Hospital for Women and Children was opened in Chandni Chowk by Lady Dufferin, Vicereine of India. It began as a 40- to 50-bed facility overlooking Queen’s Gardens (now Azad Park), becoming Delhi’s first hospital exclusively for women and children. During its early years, the Mission treated hundreds of patients in the new hospital and tens of thousands through dispensaries and home visits. The hospital quickly gained reputation for its discipline, hygiene, and compassionate care.

old building St.Stephen's hospital.commons.wikimedia.org

1909 St.Stephen's hospital. Delhi.wikimedia.org
 

In the late 19th century, St. Stephen’s introduced several major reforms. It became Delhi’s first Zanana hospital, reaching women who lived in strict purdah. It was also the first institution in North India to introduce prenatal and postnatal clinics, marking a revolution in maternal healthcare. The hospital appointed its earliest female doctors—Dr Jenny Muller in 1891 and Dr Mildred Staley in 1893—at a time when women physicians were still rare.

A turning point came in 1908 when Alice Wilkinson, a professionally trained British nurse, joined St. Stephen’s. She became the hospital’s Nursing Superintendent and brought with her modern methods of training, discipline, and patient care. Wilkinson’s legacy is significant: she founded the Trained Nurses’ Association of India (TNAI) and served as its Secretary till 1948, helping transform nursing into a respected, structured profession across the country.

As demand grew, the foundation stone for a larger building at Tis Hazari was laid in 1906, and the new 100-bed hospital opened in 1909. This colonial-era expansion enabled the hospital to serve a wider population, and its training programs in nursing, hygiene, and infant care became highly respected.

Post-independence, St. Stephen’s continued to evolve. The maternity block was inaugurated by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1969, and the General Hospital block was opened in 1976, dramatically increasing capacity. The mother and child block was later named after Dr Lucy Oommen, the hospital’s first Indian medical director and a Padma Shri awardee.

Today, St. Stephen’s is a 600-bed super-speciality hospital offering advanced medical care, 24-hour emergency services, and extensive training programs accredited by the National Board of Examinations. Its enduring motto, “In Love Serve One Another,” continues to guide the institution that began as a modest mission and grew into one of Delhi’s finest healthcare centers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hariot_Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood,_Marchioness_of_Dufferin_and_Ava

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen%27s_Hospital,_Delhi