The Montreal Chinese Hospital is a Community-owned, long term care Hospital. It's mandate is to serve the Chinese and south-east Asian Communities of Quebec. Admission to the Hospital can only be obtained by referral from other institutions and is prioritized by the Admissions Committee of the Regional Health and Social Services Board. The Hospital is the only hospital of its kind in Canada that i
s specially adapted to Chinese culture, customs and language. The Montreal Chinese Hospital was founded by Mother Marie du Saint Esprit as a temporary facility for the medical needs of the Chinese community during the influenza epidemic in 1918, and was permanently established in 1920. The Hospital offered health services for the next 45 years with the help of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, relying mainly on the support of the Community for financial assistance in the early years. In 1965, a new hospital opened at 7500 Saint-Denis Street with a 65-bed capacity, mostly for long-term care patient needs, but also for obstetrics and other specialized medical services. In 1986, the Hospital proposed to expand the hospital and return to Chinatown. After years of negotiations, the project was made possible by a very successful fund raising campaign in the Chinese Community (raising 2,200,000) and received government approval. Construction began in 1997 and the operations were moved in April 1999 to the present location with 128 beds. The Hospital receives its operating budget financing from the Quebec Regional Health and Social Services Board and some payments from Hospital patients. Funds raised from the Community by the Montreal Chinese Hospital Foundation and the Women’s Auxiliary of the Montreal Chinese Hospital are used to pay for specialized equipment, articles of comfort nd activities for the patients that are not covered by government funding.
