Division of neonatal care in India into three categories of inpatient care and one level of routine care associated with four facility levels36–39 (details in online supplementary appendix table A2)
| Category of care | Facility level and package of care |
| Newborn care corner |
Primary health centres and hospitals:
All newborns Neonatal resuscitation and routine care at birth Identification and referral of at-risk or sick newborns Care provided by an auxiliary nurse midwife |
| Inpatient care | |
| Neonatal stabilisation unit |
Level 1 (community health centre):
Management of uncomplicated small neonates (>1800 g/>34 weeks’ gestation) Management of jaundice (phototherapy) and sepsis Care provided by a minimum of nurses (≥1) and medical officers (MOs) or paediatricians (≥1) |
| Special care newborn unit |
Level 2 (district hospital):
Management of small neonates (1200–1800 g/30–34 weeks’ gestation) Management of sick neonates ≥1800 g with birth asphyxia, meconium aspiration, jaundice (exchange transfusion), sepsis or requiring gavage feeding Care provided by a minimum of nurses (1 nurse:1.2 neonates), MOs (1 MO:4 neonates) and paediatricians (≥1) |
| Neonatal intensive care unit |
Level 3 (tertiary hospital):
Management of small neonates (<1200 g/<30 weeks’ gestation) Mechanical ventilation and surgery Care provided by a minimum of nurses (1 nurse:1 neonate) and neonatologists |