Oslo Sanitetsforening Rheumatism Hospital in a Nordic Perspective

Abstract

The Oslo Sanitetsforening Rheumatism Hospital was founded in September 1938, and has now been in operation for 50 years (1, 2). It was the first hospital in Norway to specialize in care for rheumatic patients. The Norwegian Womens' Public Health Association founded and still runs the hospital. The initiator was Dr Andreas Tanberg, who also became the hospital's first medical superintendent. Together with Anna Dahl, the then chairwoman of Oslo Sanitetsforening, they had to battle against considerable resistance from the health authorities and other medical bodies in order to be able to open the

Fifty years ago, 15 Sept. 1938 an important landmark in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was accomplished in Norway. Oslo Sanitetsforening Rheumatism Hospital (OSR) was opened. It was the first special hospital in Scandinavia for treatment of this earlier greatly neglected crippling disease.