If you’ve ever passed a “Polyclinic and Surgery” in Malaysia and wondered why your friendly neighbourhood GP is advertising surgical prowess, you’re not alone. Despite the name, most don’t have operating theatres inside the clinic. The word “surgery” is actually a relic of Britain’s medical past — a time when general practitioners were hands-on healers known as surgeon-apothecaries.
WORDS LIM TECK CHOON
Walk down any street and you’ll likely spot a clinic proudly bearing the words “Polyclinic and Surgery” or “Poliklinik dan Surgeri”.
While it can seem impressive — perhaps even a little intimidating — it is very unlikely that there will be a surgeon inside waiting to perform surgeries on their patients.
SO WHY THE WORD “SURGERY”?
The reason lies not in medicine, but in history.
- During the British colonial era, the word “surgery” was a term used to describe a doctor’s consultation room.
- Even today in the UK, it’s normal to hear someone say they’re “going to the doctor’s surgery” when they are actually going to see a general practitioner or GP, not going under the knife.
A Little More In-Depth History
In the 18th and 19th centuries, medicine in Britain was divided among physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries.
- Physicians were the scholarly diagnosticians; surgeons were the practical, hands-on healers; and apothecaries prepared and dispensed medicines.
- Over time, apothecaries began diagnosing and treating patients themselves, often performing minor procedures.
- These multi-skilled practitioners became known as surgeon-apothecaries — effectively the ancestors of today’s GPs.
Their workplaces, naturally, were called “surgeries”.
So, when the concept of the general practitioner formally took shape in the 19th century, the term “surgery” stuck as the word for a doctor’s consultation space.
OVER HERE IN MALAYSIA…
Malaysia inherited much of its medical structure and terminology from the UK, hence we also keep this convention.
- Many local practitioners continued using “surgery” in their clinic names because it sounded formal and professional.
- Over time, the word became a familiar part of the medical landscape and signboards, even as its old meaning faded from public understanding.
CONCLUSION
So, the next time you see a “Polyclinic and Surgery” sign, know that it’s not an invitation to the operating table.
It’s instead just a nod to a centuries-old tradition that never quite left the building!
| This article is part of our series on issues and developments affecting the Malaysian medical landscape. |
