Early Beginnings

The evolution and development of the Health Institution that is known today and called Federal Medical Centre, Owerri began rendering healthcare services in 1903, as a military colonial hospital. The objective was to treat colonial soldiers, police and other colonial government officials.

At inception, the hospital facilities included three wards: a male ward which accommodated both medical and surgical patients, a female ward and a maternity ward. Other facilities available in 1903 included General Out-Patient Department and a Theatre. The staff complement comprised one doctor (General Practitioner) and few nurses.

Shell-Darcy Company, a major stakeholder in the colonial hospital and whose sole business in Eastern Nigeria was oil exploration relocated from Owerri in the late fifties.

On relocation the Colonial/Shell-Darcy hospital was handed over to the Eastern Regional Government. Following Nigeria Independence and under the premiership of Dr. M. I. Okpara, the hospital became a District hospital and the Shell-Darcy arm was converted to an amenity ward and known as “Okpara Nursing Home (ONH) or ward 1.

The hospital was inherited by the East Central State Government, which further increased the wards to four with bed compliment of 44 beds under a Divisional hospital status. Following the creation of Imo State in 1976, the hospital witnessed further expansion as a result of increased patronage. The Imo State Government then changed the name of the hospital to General Hospital, Owerri. Under the Imo State Government, the hospital experienced extensive infrastructural development in the following areas; a modern Out-Patient Department, six new Wards, Pharmacy Department, Chest Unit, Infant Welfare Clinic, Accident and Emergency Department, Hospital Canteen and a Mortuary. These infrastructural achievements brought the bed compliment of the General Hospital to four hundred and twenty seven (427) in thirteen wards.

Sequel to the National Health Policy, the Federal Government embarked upon the provision of tertiary medical facility in states where a Federal Teaching Hospital did not exist. Consequent upon this policy implementation, the then Minister of Health and Social Service, Alhaji (Dr.) Dalhatu Tafida accompanied by the then Minister of State for Health, Chief Silas Ilo after inspection of the then General Hospital, Owerri on 21st March, 1994 announced Federal Government take over of the hospital. On 1st January 1995, the legal life of the hospital as Federal Medical Centre, Owerri began. On the 17th of November, 2022, the centre was converted to Federal Teaching Hospital, Owerri by The President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammadu Buhari GCFR.