Brief History

Penang General Hospital, now known as Hospital Pulau Pinang, is the government hospital in Penang. It is located along Jalan Residensi, with various departments sprawled on the opposite side of the road as well as along Jalan Sepoy Lines. The General Hospital building dates back to 1882.

In 1947, Skin Clinic was formally situated in C Block of the Hospital. Skin clinic offered services like treatment for common skin diseases including Hansen’s disease (Inpatient) but sexually transmitted diseases were managed separately in “Social Hygiene Clinic” which was established in Kampong Kolam area.

In 1965, the “Social Hygiene Clinic” was integrated with the Skin Clinic at the hospital. In 20th November 1975, the “Social Hygiene Clinic” was shifted to the Macalister Road Polyclinic where it remains today. In 1981, the “Social Hygiene Clinic” at Macalister Road was integrated with the Hansen’s clinic at Perak Road.

In 1990s, both “Social Hygiene Clinic” and Hansen’s Clinic were shifted back to Hospital Pulau Pinang and integrated with Skin Clinic forming Department of Dermatology. The Department of Dermatology / Clinic was then reallocated a place at 1^st Floor, Room 105, central service block.

Department of Dermatology is a tertiary dermatology referral centre in northern region of peninsular Malaysia. It includes 3 main categories of diseases – Skin, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) & Hansen’s disease (Leprosy).