Suri Seri Begawan Hospital

SSB Hospital was officially opened on 3 October 1972 as Brunei's first dedicated healthcare facility, initially operating with a capacity of 185 beds. Named in honour of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's mother, Pengiran Anak Damit, the hospital featured modern facilities, including a large operating room complex, two theatre suites, and a casualty theatre, with a dedicated operating room for the Eye Department. By 1977, the hospital had seen an influx of clinical specialists, marking the beginning of its long history of service and expansion to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community. In 1995, the hospital underwent a major expansion, with the construction of a Rehabilitation Building and a Multi-Purpose Hall, alongside the addition of operating theatres, wards, and clinics. This development was a significant milestone in enhancing both infrastructure and patient care. The demand for dialysis services led to the completion of a Dialysis Centre in April 2000, followed by further expansion in 2009. In 2003, the hospital's capacity was further increased with the construction of the Women and Children's block, bringing the total number of beds to 222. == Facilities and services ==

As of 2022, the SSB Hospital has 13 wards with a total capacity of 222 beds. Its services include anaesthesia, internal medicine, general surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, emergency care, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, otorhinolaryngology, dialysis, endoscopy, dentistry, psychiatry, radiology, laboratory, pharmacy, and various specialist clinics. == Issues ==

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah expressed concerns about the shortage of doctors and medical supplies during a working visit to SSB Hospital on 6 July 2010. The Sultan was briefed on the hospital's 10-year expansion plans (2010–2020) by the CEO, which included proposals for new facilities such as an updated intensive care unit, expanded accident and emergency services, and a surgical block. To ensure the hospital could provide effective healthcare to the people of Belait District and alleviate the pressure on RIPAS Hospital, the plans also called for increased staffing, medical supplies, and equipment. With more than 700 employees, 325 of whom are medical professionals, the hospital saw a significant number of patients in the previous year, including 26,211 cases at the Accident and Emergency Section and 6,230 patients overall. On 30 December 2023, heavy rain and unpredictable weather caused flooding in several areas of Belait District, including SSB Hospital, leading to the temporary closure of multiple clinical services. Several specialised clinics were impacted, and patients with scheduled appointments were informed of delays, while urgent cases were directed to designated areas. Visitors were restricted from entering the hospital until cleaning was completed. Similarly, flash flooding in August 2024 led to the temporary closure of 15 clinics for maintenance and cleaning, with the Ministry of Health ensuring that affected patient appointments would be rescheduled to minimise disruption. == See also ==