In the recently released World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026, by the American magazine Newsweek, the Pequeno Príncipe Hospital achieved a remarkable rise: it moved up eight positions and reached 70th place among the 250 best hospitals for pediatrics in the world. For the fifth consecutive year, it is first exclusively pediatric hospital in Latin America in the list and the only hospital in southern Brazil.

International recognition comes to life when we look at transformed journeys. Amanda Zaramela, who at 9 years old found in Pequeno Príncipe not only medical treatment but also art workshops and storytelling, discovered there her love for theater and artistic education.

Maria Eduarda Woinarovicz, diagnosed as a baby with a genetic mutation, overcame cancer and today, at 18 years old, she studies Psychology and follows the path of science, having won a scientific initiation scholarship to join the research team at the institution that welcomed her as a patient.

And Alena Eudoxie, 8 years old, from Guyana, faced leukemia and underwent a bone marrow transplantation at the Pequeno Príncipe Hospital, being supported by multiprofessional teams and the Support House, until she was discharged and renewed her childhood dreams.

These are stories that embody the impact of a hospital that combines healthcare, science, humanization, and hope.

“Being recognized for the fifth time in the Newsweek global ranking, among the best hospitals in the world, reaffirms our scientific, human, and social excellence. It’s 106 years of history caring for children and their families through healthcare, teaching, research, innovation, and humanization. In a challenging philanthropic hospital scenario, we dedicate 74% of our care to the SUS [Brazilian Public Health System], with exactly the same specifications of materials, medicines, structure, and teams for all children. We share this recognition with all our employees, volunteers, partners, and investors, who join us in delivering the best medicine for our boys and girls. Boldly, we live the present and dare the future, with the certainty that every gesture matters and that no child deserves to be forgotten! We dream of a Brazil where every child can be born, grow, develop, and transform in fullness,” emphasizes the Hospital’s executive director, Ety Cristina Forte Carneiro.

Recognition that celebrates the soul of the institution

The trajectory of Pequeno Príncipe in the global ranking highlights the consistency of its commitment. Among the 250 best hospitals in the world for pediatrics, the Brazilian institution reached 70th place in 2026, up from 78th in 2025, 80th in 2024, 87th in 2023, and 112th in 2022. Consolidated as the fourth best-positioned Brazilian hospital, it remains behind only major centers such as A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, Sírio-Libanês Hospital, and Einstein Hospital Israelita. It is the top exclusively pediatric hospital, the only one outside São Paulo state, and the only one from southern Brazil among the world’s best for pediatrics.

The Hospital’s technical director, Cassio Fon Ben Sum, stresses that the institution is a centennial emotional and social heritage. “It was born from a collective gesture of protecting childhood and is sustained to this day by the values we uphold: care with excellence and humanization, science, and comprehensiveness.” He adds that, through multidisciplinary teams that engage in dialogue with professionals from all over the world, the institution reaffirms its commitment to quality, safety, and sensitivity in highly complex pediatrics.

Methodology

According to Newsweek magazine, the ranking was prepared based on an online survey conducted between May and July 2025, with recommendations from doctors, healthcare professionals, and hospital managers from several countries. In addition to the specialized recommendations, the methodology also takes into account information on accreditations and certifications, reinforcing the credibility of the evaluation.