Secondary hospital

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A secondary hospital, secondary referral center or a secondary care center is a healthcare facility that provides specialized medical care and support for patients referred from primary healthcare centers. Secondary hospitals typically serve as a bridge between primary care and tertiary hospitals, which offer highly specialized treatment. They are usually equipped to handle more complex medical conditions than primary centers, often including departments for surgery, general medicine, obstetrics, pediatrics, and emergency care.

Secondary hospitals play a critical role in the healthcare system, offering services that are beyond the scope of primary healthcare centers but do not require the advanced technology and specialist resources found in tertiary hospitals. They may serve a designated population area and work closely with primary healthcare providers to ensure continuity of patient care.^{[citation needed]}