On September 18, 1921, the atmosphere along Dago Street in Bandung was lively. Cars arrived one after another at a building numbered 80[1], dropping off guests who had come to attend an important reception. The terrace of the building was filled with flower arrangements of various shapes and colors[2]. That day, the city of Bandung officially gained a new hospital called Roomsch-Katholieke Ziekenverpleging Sint Borromeus.

This hospital added to the number of health facilities in Bandung city. There was already a hospital in the Cilentah area of South Bandung. At the same time, the government was constructing another hospital in Rancabadak—later known as Gemeente Ziekenhuis Juliana. Today, it is known as Hasan Sadikin Hospital.

The establishment of St. Borromeus Hospital began with the founding of the R.K. Sint Ziekenverpleging Borromeus Association in April 1921. The association was headed by Cornelius Johannes de Groot, an electronics expert who also pioneered the Malabar radio network in Bandung. Its board included Dr. W. P. Thijdsen (vice president), Pastor P. J. W. Muller (secretary), N. J. Orie (deputy secretary), W. L. A. van Galen (treasurer), and C. M. van Oyen, W. J. F. de Rijck van der Gracht, G. H. M. Vierling, and G. Th. Vonk as members. The association’s main objective was to gather financial resources to establish a hospital in Bandung[3].

In addition to raising funds, the association also determined the hospital’s location. They selected a plot owned by the Insulinde Polyclinic, operated by Dr. Merz on Dago Street. The clinic was renovated into a hospital, although Dr. Merz was still permitted to continue his surgical practice there[4].

Some doubts emerged, however: did Bandung truly need a new hospital? These doubts were answered at the inauguration. In his speech, Dr. De Groot stated that the large number of donors and the amount of funds collected clearly demonstrated the need. According to supporters, the reasoning was simple: many people were still ill, and a city could never have too many hospitals[5].

For its operations, the association sought assistance from the Sisters of Cinta Kasih[6], who had previously managed St. Carolus Hospital in Batavia[7]. In mid-1921, six sisters traveled from Batavia to Bandung in three groups: Sisters Crispine and Judith (July 30), Sisters Gaudentia and Ludolpha (August 2), and Sisters Ambrosine and Lioba (August 15). They arrived while the hospital was still under construction, and proper facilities were not yet in place[8].

Their arrival created the early impression that St. Borromeus Hospital catered exclusively to the Catholic community. However, the De Preanger Bode newspaper clarified that the hospital was open to everyone, regardless of background[9].

When it officially opened on September 18, 1921, St. Borromeus Hospital operated with modest but well-organized facilities, including an 18-bed ward, an operating room, and X-ray equipment. In the backyard stood a wooden nurses’ residence—modest, yet pleasing to the eye[10].

Over time, St. Borromeus gained the trust of Bandung’s residents. Expansions were made almost every year due to limited space. The hospital also served low-income communities, including through a program that offered free surgeries and medical care for those earning less than 250 guilders per month[11].

During its first decade, the hospital underwent renovations and expansions. One notable development was the construction of the St. Joseph Pavilion at the corner of Dagoweg and Pottersweg (now Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda and Jalan Hasanuddin). The pavilion featured spacious rooms and a veranda overlooking the Bandung mountains, where patients could enjoy both sunrise and sunset[12].

Today, more than a century later, St. Borromeus Hospital still stands on Jalan Ir. H. Djuanda, Bandung. It stands as a testament to the city’s transformation from the colonial era to the modern age and remains a significant part of Indonesia’s healthcare history.

References:

[1] DE R. K. ZIEKENVERPLEGING ST. BORROMEUS. Java-post. Edisi 23 September 1921.

[2] DE R. K. ZIEKENVERPLEGING ST. BORROMEUS. Java-post. Edisi 23 September 1921.

[3] R. K. SINT ZIEKENVERPLEGING BORROMEUS. De Preanger-bode. Edisi 16 April 1921.

[4] DE R. K. ZIEKENVERPLEGING ST. BORROMEUS. Java-post. Edisi 23 September 1921.

[5] R.K. ZIEKENVERPLEGING ST. BORROMEUS. De Preanger-bode. Edisi 19 September 1921.

[6] According to Budiarti et al. in The Blue Lantern Legacy and Beyond, the Liefdezusters van de Heilige Carolus Borromeus were the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Charles Borromeo, based in Maastricht.
(Budiarti, Maria Elly, et al. 2021. The Blue Lantern Legacy and Beyond. Bandung: Unpar Press.)

[7] R.K. Ziekenverpleging St. BORROMEUS. AID De Preangerbode. Edisi 1 April 1931.

[8] Gorris, G. 1937. Gedenkboek bij het Honderd-Jarig Bestaan der Liefdezusters van den H. Carolus Borromeus. Maastricht: Onder de Bogen. Halaman 361.

[9] VERKEERD DENKBEELD. De Preanger Bode. Edisi 30 Juli 1921.

[10] R.K. ZIEKENVERPLEGING ST. BORROMEUS. De Preanger-bode. Edisi 19 September 1921.

[11] R.K. Ziekenverpleging St. BORROMEUS. AID De Preangerbode. Edisi 1 April 1931.

[12] R.K. Ziekenverpleging St. BORROMEUS. AID De Preangerbode. Edisi 1 April 1931.