| Taxila Christian Hospital | |
| Coordinates: | 33.746°N 72.8034°W |
| Location: | Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Country: | Pakistan |
| Healthcare: | Public |
| Religious Affiliation: | Presbyterian Church of the United States |
| Opened: | 1920 |
The Taxila Christian Hospital (Urdu: ٹیکسلا کرسچن ہسپتال), also known as Christian Hospital Taxila, is an eye hospital in Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan.[1] [2] It is located on 30 acres adjacent to the remnants of the Gandhara civilization.[3] [4]
It is one of the largest eye care facilities in Pakistan.[5] [6]
Taxila Christian Hospital was founded in 1920 by the Presbyterian Church of the United States.[3] [4] In 1921, a piece of land was acquired which was located roughly 20 miles west of Rawalpindi.[3] The acquisition process involved 23 separate deed transactions, with the landowners demanding payment in cash, resulting in the transportation of silver coins from Rawalpindi to Taxila via a bullock cart.[3]
The hospital's first surgical operation took place in 1922 inside a tent, conducted by Dr. Gregory Martin, with only a lantern for illumination and the assistance of an individual named Gordon.[3] [7]
Until the late 1940s, the hospital served as a healthcare provider to the local community.[3] The focus shifted towards ophthalmology with the arrival of Dr. Norval Christy and Dr. Kargaard in 1947.[3]
On August 9, 2002, a grenade attack on the hospital's chapel resulted in four fatalities, including two nurses and a paramedic, and injured 25 others.[8] [9] [10]