THE GREEK HOSPITAL AND PHARMACIES OF  SMYRNA (1723–1922)

Spyros N. Michaleas; Theodoros N. Sergentanis; Aristeidis Diamantis; Krystallenia Alexandraki; Lazaros Vladimiros

Spyros N. Michaleas Department of History of Medicine and Medical Deontology, Medical School, University of Crete, Crete, Greece https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7507-8908
Theodoros N. Sergentanis Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9355-5528
Aristeidis Diamantis Department of Cytopathology, Naval Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
Krystallenia Alexandraki Endocrine Unit, First Department of Propaedeutic Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Lazaros Vladimiros Physician, Historian of Medicine, Athens, Greece

Keywords: Greek Hospital of Smyrna, Pharmacies of Smyrna, Hospital of Saint Charalampos, George Morait

Abstract

https://doi.org/10.31952/amha.19.2.5

From the mid-18th century to the mid-20th century, Greek doctors in Smyrna collaborated with pharmacists, churches, and the city’s Greek Orthodox community to create a state of-the-art health network and charitable foundation to serve physical and mental health needs of the local community. At Graekikon Nosokomion o Agios Haralampos (Greek Saint Charalampos Hospital), or the Greek Hospital, every citizen, regardless of origin, language, religion, or economic status, had access to the most appropriate medical and pharmaceutical care. Neighborhood pharmacists complemented this care by administering vaccinations and preparing medicines. Smyrna’s pivotal influence on the Greek medical community ended in August 1922, when the Greek Hospital was destroyed during the Catastrophe of Smyrna.