MD Paediatrics

MD Paediatrics is the short form for Doctor of Medicine in Paediatrics. It is a three-year medical course pursued by MBBS graduates who wish to build a career as a paediatrician. MD Paediatrics course focuses on medical issues and illnesses affecting children from infancy to young adolescence. Across India, multiple universities and medical colleges offer aspirants the opportunity to pursue the MD Paediatrics course in India. Aspirants are required to present an NMC-recognised MBBS degree and clear the necessary examinations to pursue this course.

Currently, to pursue an MD degree, candidates must attempt and rank in the NEET-PG examinations. However, NMC has been working on replacing the NEET-PG exams with the National Exit Test (NExT). Some of the top colleges for MD in Paediatrics courses in India include AIIMS, PGIMER, Kasturba Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Christian Medical College and many more. The average tuition fee ranges from INR 5,000 to INR 40,00,000 per year depending on the type of college and fee waivers. After completing this course, candidates can take work as Paediatricians, Neonatology Paediatricians, Critical Care Paediatricians, etc. and earn up to INR 30,00,000 annually as per job title.

Here are some of the highlights of MD Paediatrics courses in India:

Apart from being passionate about pursuing a career in the medical field, MD Paediatrics graduates can help children lead normal lives. Here are some other reasons why one should pursue this course:

Career Satisfaction: With the ability to work with children and resolve medical issues to help them lead a normal childhood often leads to high career satisfaction. Coupled with high salaries, as defined below, studying MD Paediatrics can help one achieve high career satisfaction.

Lucrative Salaries: Graduates often find high-paying job roles due to the high demand for qualified professionals. On average, experienced paediatricians can earn anywhere between INR 1-2 lakhs per month. However, the years of experience and expertise that such physicians bring to the table heavily influence their annual income.

Relatively Cheaper: The course fees for the MD Paediatrics course in India can range from INR 5,000-30,00,000 per annum. However, compared to other specialities, MD Paediatrics is a relatively cheaper option for MBBS graduates wishing to further their studies.

Research Opportunities: Being an extremely dynamic field of medicine, MD Paediatrics encourages students to develop new ways to improve the lives of children by upgrading or inventing new treatment methods for different illnesses. As per trends, the field of medicine is continuously developing and bringing out new methods to solve different medical illnesses and challenges.

Paediatrics is an expansive term that includes different specialisations within the subject. Needless to say, students will be able to specialise in different subjects such as neonatal, critical care, oncology and much as outlined below:

• Neonatology

• Paediatric Oncology

• Child Neurology

• Paediatric Critical Care

• Paediatric Endocrinology

• Adolescent Medicine

• Paediatric Gastroenterology

Admissions to the MD Paediatric course in India will require aspirants to present valid test score results at the time of admission. Some universities may accept the national standardised test commonly, but few recognised universities also conduct their admission tests to enrol prospective students. Listed below are some of the popular tests for MD Paediatrics in India, that candidates may have to attempt in order to pursue the PG course.

• NEET-PG (soon to be replaced by NExT)

• JIPMER PG + Interviews

• AIIMS PG + Interviews

Note: The minimum score required in each of these tests for the course will be determined by individual universities. Therefore, it is advisable to thoroughly check the admission requirements before submitting the application form.

Each university defines its MD Paediatric admission requirements for MBBS graduates. However, there are some general requirements that students should be aware of before applying to the course:

• All applicants should have an NMC-recognised MBBS degree with the required scores.

  • Typically, universities require candidates to present a minimum of 50-60% aggregate score during their MBBS.

• Candidates must also appear for the NEET-PG test in the year they wish to pursue the course.

• Applicants must also present 1 year of valid internships at the time of application. They should apply for internships after clearing the final exams for MBBS.

  • Candidates must have completed 1-year of internship as on March 31 or April 31 of the year of application.

Note: The National Medical Commission (NMC) of India is soon preparing to replace the NEET-PG examination with the National Exit Test (NExT), which will act as a licentiate test as well as an entrance test to PG medical courses in India. Therefore, keep a look out for the announcement before submitting the application and test scores.

After meeting the basic eligibility criteria for the programme, students will need to complete the admission process for MD Paediatrics in India. As stated above, the admission processes may be unique to each university offering the course, however, there are general processes that are common across almost all medical colleges.

• For universities enrolling students on the basis of NEET-PG scores, admission will be completed via the NEET-PG selection process.

• Candidates who clear the qualifying percentile for the desired courses will be eligible for admission to their desired universities.

• Some medical colleges like AIIMS will conduct their entrance examinations and subsequently, individual admission processes.

• After the scores have been secured, candidates may be asked to sit for an interview to finalise their admission to the MD Paediatrics course.

Hundreds of medical colleges across the country offer the MD Paediatrics course for aspirants. Some of the top MD Paediatrics colleges in the country have been listed below:

Here is the state wise breakdown of some of the most prestigious MD Paediatrics colleges all over the country:

West Bengal

Some of the best MD Paediatrics colleges in West Bengal are:

 Maharashtra

Here is the list of top medical colleges in Maharashtra offering MD Paediatrics course:

Karnataka

Some of the best MD Paediatrics colleges in Karnataka are mentioned below:

Depending on the institution, the MD Paediatrics course fees in India will vary significantly. In other words, government medical colleges will be comparatively inexpensive, while MD Paediatrics in private institutions will be comparatively more expensive.

It should be noted that the MD Paediatric course fees in India provided in the table is an approximate number.

As a graduate medical programme, universities and colleges offering the course will include the following MD Paediatrics syllabus and subjects:

• Growth and Development

• Behavioral & Developmental Disorders

• Respiratory

• Neurologic Disorders

• Neonatology

• Endocrinology

• Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease

• Emergency & Critical Care

• ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat)

• Renal Disorders

• Nutrition

• Social Pediatrics

• Psychological Disorders

• Genetics

• Infections (Neonatal infections)

• Hematology & Oncology

• Fetus and Newborn

• Cardiovascular

• Orthopedics

• Immunology & Rheumatology

• Social Issues: Children with special needs

• Skin Diseases

• CNS (Central Nervous System)

• Eye Diseases

• Digestive System

• Adolescent Health

While these are some of the topics that should be covered in an MD Paediatrics course in India, universities may include additional topics and subjects in a bid to widen the knowledge and understanding of the students.

Paediatricians across the globe are some of the highly paid medical professionals, in the entire medical community. Similarly, in India, paediatricians are some of the more highly paid physicians in the country as well. Check out relevant information regarding the career scope and salaries of paediatricians in different roles below.

MD Paediatrician Job Roles in India

The table below shows the different job roles for MD Paediatricians in India:

Some of the top areas of employment where MD Paediatrics graduates can find employment include:

• Hospitals

• Public & Private Clinics

• Health Departments

• Schools

• Own Businesses

Among the top employers for MD Paediatrics in India have been listed below:

• AIIMS

• Apollo Healthcare

• Fortis Healthcare

• Max Healthcare

• Christian Medical College

Depending on the job roles and experience, the salary after an MD Paediatrician course in India can range anywhere between INR 1-30 LPA. Check out the table below to find out the MD Paediatrics salaries in India.

In addition to the experience and job role, the place of employment also determines how much an individual earns as a paediatrician. If employed at a hospital, the salary will be determined by the number of years of practice and expertise. On the other hand, opening a private set-up and the earnings from it will depend on the number of patients one can cater to and other services provided in the set-up.

To become one of the top paediatricians in the country, candidates must possess the following skillsets, commonly expected of a professional in the field.

Communication: As is the case with any doctor, Paediatricians are required to possess excellent communication skills. The need for good communication skills is amplified when it comes to talking to children as they may find it difficult to communicate their issues and challenges.

Problem-Solving: Deadline with children can sometimes be a difficult task, moreover, each situation and medical condition requires unique solutions. For this reason, paediatricians must possess skills in problem-solving and critical thinking as it may lead to better lives for children.

Ability to Relate to Children: As stated above, paediatricians must have the ability to relate to children. Due to their inability to communicate their difficulties and challenges, paediatricians must find ways to help children communicate exactly what’s troubling them.

Teamwork: Even though the role may seem like a one-person role, paediatricians are often required to work with other physicians and lab technicians to get results. This requires a level of teamwork skills that ensures the smooth functioning of a healthcare facility.

Awareness of Traditions and Cultures: India is a country with hundreds of cultures and traditions that restrict certain medical procedures. For this purpose, it is highly important to know what may or may not be acceptable to a community.

Attention to Detail: As is the case with any medical profession, keeping a keen eye on details will be helpful in solving complex medical issues and challenges that children may be facing. The ability to spot the smallest of imperfections in different lab results and tests will amplify the chances of saving a child’s life.