Bimaristan

Bimaristan is a term used in the Islamic Golden Age to refer to a hospital where the ill were welcomed and cared for. The word "Bimaristan" is of Persian origin, meaning "house of the sick". These institutions were developed in the Islamic world from the 9th century onward.

History

The first known Bimaristan was built in Baghdad during the time of Harun al-Rashid. These hospitals were an early example of public healthcare, and they were typically funded by religious or charitable donations. The Bimaristan hospitals were open to all, regardless of their race, religion, or social status.

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A Bimaristan in Baghdad

Structure and Function

Bimaristans were designed to cater to different types of illnesses and had separate wards for different diseases. They were also equipped with a library, a mosque, and rooms for medical students. The hospitals employed male and female nurses, and the doctors were well-trained in the Galenic medical tradition.

Impact on Modern Medicine

The Bimaristan played a significant role in the development of medicine. It was in these hospitals that the first clinical trials were conducted. The doctors would compare the effects of different treatments on similar types of patients and record their findings. This method of observation and documentation laid the foundation for modern clinical trials and evidence-based medicine.

See Also

• History of hospitals
• Islamic Golden Age
• Medicine in the medieval Islamic world