Oldest hospital in world exists in Turkish province of Kayseri

KAYSERI, Türkiye (MNTV) – Housed within the imposing walls of a 13th-century structure, the Gevher Nesibe Medical Complex in Kayseri, Turkiye is the world’s oldest medical facility. 

 Once a pioneering healthcare institution that treated patients from across the region, it is showcasing the extraordinary medical accomplishments of the Seljuk era.  

Commissioned in accordance with the final wishes of Gevher Nesibe Sultan – daughter of Seljuk ruler Kilij Arslan II and sister of Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev I – this historic darüşşifa (hospital) continues to captivate scholars and visitors alike. 

The complex’s origins trace back to a tragic romance between the princess and the palace’s chief sipahi (cavalry officer), whose untimely death from battle wounds left Gevher Nesibe heartbroken. 

Succumbing to tuberculosis, her dying request established an institution that would forever change medical history.  

Encompassing approximately 2,800 square meters, the complex features several groundbreaking sections: a şifahane for patient diagnosis and treatment, a bimarhane specializing in music therapy, and a madrasa considered the world’s first medical school. 

This integrated approach to healthcare represented a revolutionary concept for its time.  

Now operating as the Museum of Medical History, the former madrasa displays an extensive collection of Seljuk-era medical instruments, pharmaceutical tools, and treatment methodologies.

Historian Gündüz underscores the site’s historical importance, noting that Sultan Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev I ordered its construction between 1205-1206 as a memorial to his sister.  

The comprehensive facility additionally included training areas for medical students, a specialized hospital for mental health treatment, a therapeutic bathhouse, and a mosque. 

This multifaceted design embodied a holistic healing philosophy addressing both physical ailments and psychological distress.  

Gündüz recounts the institution’s poignant origins, “After discovering his sister’s romance with the chief sipahi, Sultan Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev I dispatched the officer to war. Mortally wounded in battle, the sipahi returned to Kayseri and died in Gevher Nesibe’s arms. 

The grief-stricken princess subsequently fell ill and requested the establishment of a hospital to treat all forms of suffering. Functioning continuously as a medical school until 1890, the darüşşifa became a center where students trained under expert supervision.”  

Today, the complex attracts approximately 100,000 annual visitors who come to admire its architectural grandeur and learn about its groundbreaking contributions to medical science. 

As both a historical landmark and a museum, the Gevher Nesibe Medical Complex preserves an invaluable legacy of Seljuk-era healthcare innovation.