The origins of Humanitas go back to the second half of the 1980s, when the meeting of Prof. Nicola Dioguardi and Pier Carlo Romagnoli (then President of Reale Mutua), with Gianfelice Rocca, President of Techint, and a group of other entrepreneurs gave rise to the idea of creating “a modern, well-organised and efficient hospital centered on the concept of doctor-patient relations”.

1989

With the participation of two specialised British companies, W.S. Atkins and Bupa - the British United Provident Association - Techint conducted a feasibility study that led to the choice of James Gowan’s original and futuristic design.

Techint was assigned to plan and construct the hospital complex, and preliminary studies identified a catchment area covering the metropolitan zone south of Milan. The objective was to create both basic and advanced facilities.

1992

The site was opened and, in November, the first foundation of the main building was set in place.

1996

Construction was completed in just three years and, on 4 March 1996, Humanitas welcomed its first patient.

1997

One year after its inauguration on 10 March, the agreement allowing all citizens covered by the Italian National Health Service to gain access to the services of Humanitas came into force, and represented the first phase of the hospital’s NHS accreditation.

In June, an agreement was reached with Milan University’s Faculty of Medicine and Surgery concerning teaching activities for the members of its post-graduate schools.

1999

Fondazione Humanitas was founded with the aim of helping patients and their caregivers both practically and psychologically by means of the promotion of teaching and training projects.

2000

The process of NHS accreditation was completed, and October saw the beginning of Milan University’s first degree course in Nursing.

2002

In September, the “Humanitas case study” was presented to the MBA students of Harvard University within the framework of its “Innovations in Health Care” course concerning the planning and management of high-quality healthcare services.

In December, Humanitas became the first Italian general hospital to obtain the accreditation of excellence issued by the Joint Commission International, one of the world’s most important bodies for the certification of hospital quality.

2003

November saw the inauguration of the Emergency and Radiotherapy Departments in the presence of the Minister of Health and the Governor of Lombardy.

2004

Humanitas celebrated its first graduates in Nursing Sciences, and the project for the creation of a Research and Teaching Centre was approved.

2005

Humanitas was recognised by the Ministry of Health and Lombardy’s Regional Government as an Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (a Scientific Institute of Admission and Care).

Work was started for the construction of the new Research and Teaching Centre in the area of Perseghetto, opposite Humanitas.

In May, Gianfelice Rocca, the President of Humanitas, and Prof. Enrico Decleva, Rector of Milan University, signed the agreement recognising Istituto Clinico Humanitas as a teaching site for students of the course for a degree in Medicine and Surgery.

The Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca was established with the aim of supporting and orienting basic and clinical research with scientific and technological high-profile, and promoting the training of young researchers in an international dimension.

2007

May saw the inauguration of the new Research and Teaching Centre (an area of 20,000 sq.mts.). The Centre houses 30 laboratories for 300 researchers, 14 university classrooms for 400 students in Medicine and Surgery , Biotechnologies and Nursing Sciences of Milan University, a library and a Congress Centre.