Pequeno Príncipe, the largest and most complete pediatric hospital in Brazil and a national reference in high and medium-complexity child and adolescent healthcare, celebrated a historic achievement in May: It was recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Health as a Center of Excellence, following the certification process under the evaluation of the Support Program for Institutional Development of the Public Health System (Proadi-SUS, abbreviation in Portuguese). This title places the institution alongside other renowned Brazilian hospitals, such as Albert Einstein, Sírio-Libanês, HCor, Oswaldo Cruz, Beneficência Portuguesa, Moinhos de Vento, and AC Camargo.

With 105 years of dedication to children’s and adolescents’ health, Pequeno Príncipe stands out as the only exclusively pediatric hospital in Brazil and the first in the state of Paraná to receive this recognition. The certification attested compliance with 91 requirements across various categories: Hospital performance; public health research; human resources training; and the development of management techniques and operations in healthcare services. Achieving this excellence certification is a requirement for renewal or inclusion in Proadi.

This accomplishment is the result of the collective work of all doctors and staff, as well as the commitment to the mission of transforming lives through health. “This recognition is also the validation of a journey built with love, dedication, and the hard work of many generations since 1919,” says José Álvaro da Silva Carneiro, corporate director of the Pequeno Príncipe Complex. “For us, it is a great honor to be recognized at a quality standard within such a select group of Centers of Excellence, and to be the first hospital in Paraná to meet all the evaluation criteria. We are energized and motivated to continue doing more and doing better for our children,” he adds.

In addition to national recognition, Pequeno Príncipe also stands out internationally, appearing for the fourth consecutive year on Newsweek’s list of the 250 best specialized hospitals in the world, and ranked as the best exclusively pediatric hospital in Latin America. The institution allocates 60% of its hospital admissions to patients from the Brazilian Public Health System (known as SUS), and in 2024 alone, it performed over 259,000 outpatient consultations, 20,000 surgical procedures, and 293 transplants.

This certification reflects the daily efforts of everyone who is part of the Hospital and reaffirms its commitment to continuous improvement, humanized care, innovation, and excellence in pediatric treatment. “We are very proud to be part of SUS and the supplementary health system, and to reach this level of quality for everyone who depends on our services,” Carneiro emphasizes.