DM in Pediatric Nephrology: NMC issues guidelines

"While there has been improvement in nutritional status and immunization coverage over the last three decades, chronic non-communicable diseases involving various systems are now becoming an important cause of mortality and morbidity in childhood. There is an increasing demand for specialized care of children with chronic diseases. Children with kidney diseases are often diagnosed and referred in late stages of the disease. Most of them are not treated appropriately due to lack of expertise and want of diagnostic and therapeutic infrastructure," noted the preamble to the course

"A phenomenal progress has taken place that has revolutionized the management of children with renal diseases. However, children with renal diseases in our country have been largely denied the benefits of advanced medical management. For paediatricians to provide optimal treatment for these children, special training and in-depth knowledge are necessary. It is imperative to provide suitable facilities for appropriate and relevant training in pediatric nephrology to promote growth of the specialty in the country. The training should emphasise on preventive aspects, early diagnosis of common diseases and their optimum management with available resources including dialysis and transplantation," the preamble added

Eligibility for admission: M.D in Pediatrics

Goals:

The goal of the course shall be to produce a competent specialist in the area of Pediatric Nephrology:

1. who shall be competent to handle the health needs of patients in the speciality and provide secondary and tertiary level of care

2. who shall be able to practice the speciality ethically,

3. who shall be aware of the contemporary advances and developments in the subject,

4. who shall acquire a spirit of scientific inquiry and is oriented to the principles of research methodology and epidemiology, and

5. who shall have acquired the skills for teaching medical and paramedical professionals.

A. Objectives:

The objectives of the training programme will be to enable the student:

1. To develop a scientific approach, based on the understanding of the pathophysiology and epidemiology of pediatric renal disease,

2. To provide primary, secondary and tertiary care to children with renal disease,

3. To provide the skills for management of emergencies in unstable children with renal problems and provide renal care to critically ill children in the intensive care unit,

4. To implement a follow up plan in children with chronic disease,

5. To be able to work in a team along with intensivists, pediatricians, pediatric surgeons and others to provide comprehensive care to children with renal disease,

6. To be able to set up and manage an independent Pediatric Nephrology unit including dialysis,

7. To develop adequate communication and counselling skills,

8. To recognize the importance of family, society and socio-cultural environment in the treatment of the sick child with renal disease,

9. To review and analyse literature, seek evidence and apply to clinical practice,

10. To develop basic research skills and carry out research projects in the field of Pediatric Nephrology, and

11. To develop basic teaching skills and be able to train undergraduates, postgraduates, nursing and paramedical staff regarding care of children with renal disease.