The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital came into existence in 1979 following the need for a Tertiary Health Institution that will render Clinical Services at a level that meets the requirements for the training of medical students of the College of Medical Sciences of the University of Calabar, resident Doctors for the different Post Graduates as well as other healthcare providers in different specialties of Medicine and it's Allied Professions.
The Hospital took over the facilities of the then St. Margaret's Hospital, Calabar, which was the first Public Hospital in Nigeria, established in 1897. The facilities of the Maternity Annex of St. Margaret's Hospital were also taken over by the Hospital.
The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital is built on the outstanding reputation of the founding fathers of St. Margaret's Hospital, who came in from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. It is worthy of note that the filarial infection (Loa-loa) was first described as "Calabar Swelling" in the then St. Margaret's Hospital.
With the rising incidence and resurgence of emerging and re-emerging infections such as HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Filariasis, the viral Haemorragic fevers etc, the Hospital established the Institute of Tropical Disease Research, Prevention and Control. The focus of the Institute is research and evidence - based medicine, in collaboration with The Houston School of Public Health Texas USA, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Cochrane Nigeria. The hospital also houses the Cochrane Nigeria, a part of the Cochrane Collaboration.
In 2001, the Hospital commenced its first movement to the permanent site situated at Unical Hotel Road off IBB Way, Calabar. That movement was completed in 2012
The Hospital also operates a Comprehensive Health Centre at Okoyong located at Ikot Effiong Otop, Odukpani Local Government area, about 45 Kilometers from Calabar. This Health Centre provides Primary and secondary Health Care services to the people of Odukpani Local Government Area and neighbouring States.
Clinical services are available in all specialized Medical areas such as Surgery, Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, Otorhinolaryngology, Anaesthesiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chemical Pathology, Family Medicine, Orthopaedics/Traumatology, Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ophthalmology, Haematology, Accident and Emergency, Psychiatry, Medical Social Works and Medical Health Records etc. Over the years, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital has been in the vanguard of training and providing the much needed clinical, health and human resources to our community and nation. Several factors have worked together to create and sustain the present atmosphere of contentment, dedication to duty and grim determination on the part of the staff to carry out their services to humanity in the spirit of the founding fathers.
The hospital operates 24 hours service and runs out-patient clinics five (5) times a week (Mondays - Fridays). Emergency services are available round the clock 24hrs a day, seven days a week. Ward rounds are conducted by different Consultants and their various teams. Twenty four hours pharmacy services,twenty four hours laboratory services, specialized investigations, Counselling and Testing for HIV/AIDS and emerging diseases and other clinical services available in the hospital.
The hospital offers training programmes such as training of Nurses, Postgraduate Residency Training of Medical Doctors, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Training of Medical students, Training of Health Information Management Personnel, Post basic ORL Nursing and training in other areas of Medicine and the Allied Sciences.
The hospital over the years has been involved in various research endeavours with collaboration/partnership with the College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, other in-country health research institutions and international organizations. We remain committed to furthering the Frontiers of innovative Research and linkages, especially in Tropical diseases and Infections.