Our history

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In the beginning...

Paul Ramsay AO (1936-2014) was a leading Australian businessman and philanthropist. He started Ramsay Health Care when he was 28 years old by converting a guest house in Sydney, Australia into a 16-bed private psychiatric hospital.

In 1978, he expanded into mainstream surgical hospitals. Since then, Ramsay has grown and evolved into one of the largest and most diverse healthcare companies in the world.

On 23 September 1997, Ramsay Health Care Limited successfully listed on the Australian Stock Exchange [ASX:RHC]. 

Paul Ramsay remained chairman of the company until his death in 2014. He is remembered by friends, family, colleagues and employees as a true gentleman and a proud but humble Australian.

The Paul Ramsay Foundation, established in 2006, is one of Australia’s largest charitable organisations. The foundation’s grants are funded from the dividends of its Ramsay Health Care shareholding.

Ramsay Health Care Annual Report 2023

Paul Ramsay's legacy

Ramsay's history and the strength of our culture are a source of pride and inspiration for our people.
Our long-standing values are underpinned by Paul Ramsay’s enduring belief that ‘if you look after the people, success will follow’.

1964
Paul Ramsay converted a
guesthouse in Sydney,
Australia into our first
hospital, a 16-bed
psychiatric facility.
1978 - 2006
Ramsay diversified into medical and surgical facilities and expanded its psychiatric sites. Building and acquiring new sites across the country made Ramsay the largest private hospital operator in Australia. In 1997, Ramsay became a public company on the Australian Stock Exchange.
2007
Ramsay acquired a private hospital business in the UK.
2010
Established the Ramsay Santé joint venture in France.
2013
Established the Ramsay Sime Darby joint venture in Asia.
2015
Ramsay Santé acquired Générale de Santé, putting Ramsay in the top five private hospital operators in the world.
2018
Ramsay Santé acquired the Scandinavian healthcare operator Capio AB.
2022
Ramsay acquired Elysium Healthcare in the UK.
2022
Ramsay Santé acquired GHP Specialty Care in Sweden.
2023
Completed sale of 50:50 joint venture in Asia, Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care.
2023
Opened our 20th Ramsay Psychology practice in Australia.
2023
Opening the new Northern Private Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.