Between hospital and home

Transitional care centres can add a lot to India's health care system

- Rahul Devulapalli

Some years ago, Hyderabad resident Krishna Mohan was diagnosed with a lung condition that required immediate medical attention. He underwent treatment at a leading hospital and was subsequently discharged. However, the family was instructed to install an oxygen cylinder at home just in case. Soon, he was diagnosed with a failing liver and, once again, got treatment and was discharged. His family was asked to monitor his health closely. They turned one of their rooms into a makeshift nursing ward, hiring nurses and taking turns caring for the patient. This placed a significant strain on both their mental and financial wellbeing.

Today, if faced with the same situation, a family could handle it differently. They could consider transitional care centres, which are slowly becoming a crucial part of the Indian health care system. Transitional care comes into play when patients no longer require acute medical care in hospitals, but still need rehabilitation or ongoing treatment.

Although still relatively scarce, established transitional care centers can be found in cities like Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. And though awareness of transitional care remains low in India compared with the west, the number of patients and available beds are steadily rising. The patients typically admitted to these centres include those who suffer from cancer, stroke, orthopaedic problems, long Covid and cardiac ailments.