The Chhatrapati Pramilaraje General Hospital was originally built in commemoration of the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1875 and was named King Albert Edward Hospital. The Foundation stone was laid by Sir James Fergusson, the then Governor of Bombay on 9th March 1877. This was possible with the blessings of the regional ruler of Kolhapur,  Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj. This project was completed in 1881. The hospital underwent many changes after Shahu Maharaj returned from England. 

Post independence, the hospital was renamed as Chhatrapati Pramilatai Raje Hospital (CPR) in honor of Chhatrapati Pramilatai Raje, daughter in law of the Royal family of Kolhapur. In the year 2000, the hospital was officially affiliated to the newly established Rajarshee Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Government Medical College (RCSM GMC) & handed over from the dept. of Health services to the department of Medical Education in 2007. 

All admissions to the MBBS under graduate course are administered centrally by the Directorate of Medical Education & Research (DMER). The common Entrance test, called NEET-UG  is conducted by DMER      15 % of total seats are reserved for All India quota