The Hospital Checklist

Pitted against inadequacies in paediatric healthcare facilities, choosing an appropriate hospital for your child becomes tricky. We spoke to experts to help you make an informed choice. 

- Rajashree Balaram

ACCORDING TO Dr. Devi Shetty, founder and chairman of Narayana Health, a pan-India hospital chain, our country needs 200,000 paediatricians—the current number is just 20,000! In a critical healthcare area that is so largely neglected, it is not surprising that fully equipped paediatric care facilities are far from the ideal numbers in any city. Smaller hospitals closer home may not always be fully prepared to offer your child the most efficient treatment, especially if she has complex medical needs that require intensive care. For instance, sometimes even a complex pneumonia could spiral into a situation that demands medical personnel from different disciplines. Not all hospitals come equipped with such a ready battery of experts. We help you identify the factors you should be aware of before you settle on the right hospital for your little one.

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