MD Paediatrics In India: Check Out Admission Process, Fees, Medical Colleges To Apply, Syllabus, Eligibility Criteria details

MD Paediatrics or Doctor of Medicine in Paediatrics also known as MD in Paediatrics is a Postgraduate level course for doctors in India that is done by them after completion of their MBBS. The duration of this postgraduate course is three years, and it focuses on the study of various concepts related to the field of diagnosis and treatment of diseases in infants, children, and adolescents and also deals with the prevention of diseases.

The course is a full-time course pursued at various recognized medical colleges across the country. Some of the top medical colleges which offer this course include Government Siddhartha Medical College(GSMC Vijaywada), Government Medical College (Chandigarh), Lady Hardinge Medical College (New Delhi), Kasturba Medical College (Manipal), and more.

Admission to this course is made through the NEET PG Entrance exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations, followed by counseling based on the scores of the exam that is conducted by DGHS/MCC/State Authorities.

The fee for pursuing an MD (Paediatrics) varies from college to college. The average course fee is Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 12 Lakh per year.

After completion of their respective course, doctors can either join the job market or pursue a super-specialization course where MD Paediatrics is a feeder qualification. Candidates can take reputed jobs in positions as Senior residents, Junior Consultants, Consultants, etc. with an approximate salary range of Rs. 6 lakh – Rs. 15 lakh per annum.

What is MD in Paediatrics?

Doctor of Medicine in Paediatrics, also known as MD (Paediatrics) is a three-year postgraduate programme that candidates can pursue after completing MBBS.

Pediatrics is the branch of medical science that deals with the health and medical care of infants, children, and adolescents from birth to 18 years of age.

National Medical Commission (NMC), the apex medical regulator, has released a Guidelines for Competency-Based Postgraduate Training Programme for MD in Paediatrics.

The Competency-Based Postgraduate Training Programme governs the education and training of MDs in Paediatrics.

The PG education intends to create specialists who can contribute to high-quality health care and advances in science through research and training.

The required training done by a postgraduate specialist in the field of Paediatrics would help the specialist recognize the community's health needs. The student should be competent to handle medical problems effectively and should be aware of the recent advances in their specialty.

The candidate should be a highly competent doctor possessing a broad range of skills that will enable her/him to practice Paediatrics independently. The PG candidate should also acquire the basic skills in teaching medical/para-medical students.

The candidate is also expected to know the principles of research methodology and modes of the consulting library. The candidate should regularly attend conferences, workshops, and CMEs to upgrade her/ his knowledge.

Course Highlights

Here are some of the course highlights of MD in Paediatrics: 

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for MD in Paediatrics are defined as the set of rules or minimum prerequisites that aspirants must meet to be eligible for admission, which include:

• Candidates must have an undergraduate MBBS degree from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

• Candidates should have done a compulsory rotating internship of one year in a teaching institution or other institution which is recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

• The candidate must have obtained permanent registration of any State Medical Council to be eligible for admission.

• The medical college's recognition cut-off dates for the MBBS Degree courses and compulsory rotatory Internship shall be as prescribed by the Medical Council of India (now NMC).

Admission Process

The admission process contains a few steps to be followed in order for the candidates for admission to MD in Paediatrics. Candidates can view the complete admission process for MD in Paediatrics mentioned below:

• The NEET PG or National Eligibility Entrance Test for Post Graduate is a national-level master's level examination conducted by the NBE for admission to MD/MS/PG Diploma Courses.

• The requirement of eligibility criteria for participation in counseling towards PG seat allotment conducted by the concerned counseling authority shall be instead of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations (as per the latest amendment) notified by the MCI (now NMC) with prior approval of MoHFW.

• The following Medical institutions are not covered under centralized admissions for MD/MS seats through NEET- PG:

1. AIIMS, New Delhi, and other AIIMS

2. PGIMER, Chandigarh

3. JIPMER, Puducherry

4. NIMHANS, Bengaluru

Fees Structure

The fee structure for MD in Paediatrics varies from college to college. The fee is generally less for Government Institutes and more for private institutes. The average fee structure for MD in Paediatrics is Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 12 Lakh per annum.

Colleges offering MD in Paediatrics

There are various medical colleges across India that offer courses for pursuing MD (Paediatrics).

As per National Medical Commission (NMC) website, the following medical colleges are offering MD (Paediatrics) courses for the academic year 2022-23.

The stipend offered by various medical colleges in India for MD Paediatrics for the year 2022 is as follows:

An MD in Pediatrics is a three years specialization course that provides training in the stream of Paediatrics.

The course content for MD in Paediatrics is given in the Competency-Based Postgraduate Training Programme released by National Medical Commission, which can be assessed on the link given below :

Course contents: 

During the training period, an effort must be made that adequate time is spent in discussing child health problems of public health importance in the country or particular region.

Basic Sciences

• Principles of inheritance, chromosomal disorders, single gene disorders, multifactorial / polygenic disorders, genetic diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis, pedigree drawing.

• Embryogenesis of different organ systems especially heart, genitourinary system, gastro-intestinal tract. Applied anatomy and functions of different organ systems.

• Physiology of micturition and defecation; placental physiology; fetal and neonatal circulation; regulation of temperature, blood pressure, acid base balance, fluid electrolyte balance and calcium metabolism.

• Vitamins and their functions.

• Hematopoiesis, hemostasis, bilirubin metabolism.

• Growth and development at different ages, growth charts; puberty and its regulation.

• Nutrition: requirements and sources of various nutrients.

• Pharmacokinetics of common drugs, microbial agents and their epidemiology.

• Basic immunology, biostatistics, clinical epidemiology, ethical and medico-legal issues.

• Teaching methodology and managerial skills.

Understanding the definition, epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, presentation, complications, differential diagnosis and treatment of the following, but not limited to:

Growth and development

• principles of growth and development

• normal growth and development,

• normal growth and development

• sexual maturation and its disturbances

• failure to thrive and short stature

• Autism (as mentioned in objective 24)

Neonatology

• perinatal care

• low birth weight

• care in the labor room and resuscitation

• newborn feeding

• prematurity

• respiratory distress

• common transient phenomena

• apnea

• infections

• anemia and bleeding disorders

• jaundice

• gastrointestinal disorders

• neurologic disorders

• malformations

• renal disorders

• understanding of perinatal medicine

• thermoregulation and its disorders

Nutrition

• maternal nutritional disorders;

• nutrition for the low birth weight impact on fetal outcome

• breastfeeding

• infant feeding including

• vitamin and mineral deficiencies complementary feeding

• protein energy malnutrition

• obesity

• adolescent nutrition

• parenteral and enteral nutrition

• nutritional management of systemic illness (GI, hepatic, renal illness)

Cardiovascular

• congenital heart diseases

• rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart

(cyanotic and acyanotic) disease

• infective endocarditis

• arrhythmia

• disease of myocardium

• diseases of pericardium (cardiomyopathy, myocarditis)

• systemic hypertension

• hyperlipidemia in children

Respiratory

• congenital and acquired disorders of nose

• infections of upper respiratory tract tonsils and adenoids

• obstructive sleep apnea

• congenital anomalies of lower respiratory tract

• acute upper airway obstruction

• foreign body in larynx trachea and bronchus

• trauma to larynx

• subglottic stenosis (acute, chronic)

• neoplasm of larynx and trachea

• bronchial asthma

• bronchiolitis

• acute pneumonia, bronchiolitis

• aspiration pneumonia, GER

• recurrent, interstitial pneumonia

• suppurative lung disease

• atelectasis

• lung cysts, mediastinal mass

• pleural effusion

Gastrointestinal and liver disease

• disease of oral cavity

• disorders of deglutition and esophagus

• peptic ulcer disease

• congenital pyloric stenosis

• intestinal obstruction

• acute and chronic pancreatic disorders

• malabsorption syndrome

• acute and chronic diarrhea

• irritable bowel syndrome

• inflammatory bowel disease

• Hirschsprung disease

• anorectal malformations

• hepatitis

• hepatic failure

• chronic liver disease

• Budd-Chiari syndrome

• metabolic diseases of liver

• cirrhosis and portal hypertension

Nephrologic and Urologic disorders

• acute and chronic glomerulonephritis

• xanthema syndrome

• hemolytic uremic syndrome

• urinary tract infection

• VUR and renal scarring

• involvement in systemic diseases

• renal tubular disorders

• neurogenic bladder, voiding dysfunction

• congenital and hereditary renal disorders

• renal and bladder stones

• posterior urethral valves

• hydronephrosis

• undescended testis, hernia, hydrocoele

• Wilms tumor

Neurologic disorders

• seizure and non-seizure paroxysmal events

• epilepsy, epileptic syndromes

• meningitis, encephalitis

• brain abscess

• febrile encephalopathies

• Guillain-Barre syndrome

• neurocysticercosis and other neuroinfestations

• HIV encephalopathy

• SSPE

• cerebral palsy

• neurometabolic disorders

• neurodegenerative disorders

• neuromuscular disorders

• mental retardation

• learning disabilities

• muscular dystrophies

• acute flaccid paralysis and AFP surveillance

• malformations

• movement disorders

• Tumors

Hematology and Oncology

• deficiency anemias

• hemolytic anemias

• aplastic anemia

• pancytopenia

• thrombocytopenia •

disorders of hemostasis

• blood component therapy

• transfusion related infections

• bone marrow transplant/stem cell transplant

• acute and chronic leukemia

• myelodysplastic syndrome

• Lymphoma

• neuroblastoma

• hypercoagulable states

Endocrinology

• hypopituitarism/hyperpituitarism

• diabetes insipidus

• pubertal disorders

• hypo – and hyper-thyroidism

• adrenal insufficiency

• Cushing's syndrome

• adrenogenital syndromes

• diabetes mellitus

• hypoglycemia

• short stature

• gonadal dysfunction and intersexuality

• obesity

Infections

• bacterial (including tuberculosis)

• viral (including HIV)

• fungal

• parasitic

• rickettssial

• mycoplasma

• protozoal and parasitic

• nosocomial infections

• control of epidemics and infection prevention

• safe disposal of infective material

Emergency and Critical Care

• emergency care of shock

• cardio-respiratory arrest

• respiratory failure

• acute renal failure

• status epilepticus

• acute severe asthma

• fluid and electrolyte disturbances

• acid-base disturbances

• poisoning

• accidents

• scorpion and snake bites

Immunology and Rheumatology

• arthritis (acute and chronic)

• vasculitides

• immunodeficiency syndromes

• systemic lupus erythematosus

ENT

• acute and chronic otitis media

• hearing loss

• post-diphtheritic palatal palsy

• acute/chronic tonsillitis/adenoids

• allergic rhinitis/sinusitis

• foreign body

Skin Diseases

• exanthematous illnesses

• vascular lesions

• pigment disorders

• vesicobullous disorders

• infections

• Steven-Johnson syndrome

• atopic, seborrheic dermatitis

• drug rash

• alopecia

• icthyosis

Eye problems

• refraction and accommodation

• partial/total loss of vision

• cataract

• night blindness

• strabismus

• conjunctival and corneal disorders

• disorders of retina, including tumors

Behavioral and Developmental disorders

• rumination, pica

• enuresis, encopresis

• sleep disorders

• habit disorders

• breath holding spells

• anxiety disorders

• mood disorders

• temper tantrums

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorders

• autism (as mentioned in objective 24)

Social/Community Paediatrics

• national health programs related to child health • IMNCI

• Vaccines: constituents, efficacy, storage, contraindications and adverse reactions

• rationale and methodology of pulse polio immunization

• child labor, abuse, neglect • adoption

• disability and rehabilitation • rights of the child

• National policy of child health and population • juvenile delinquency

• Principles of prevention, control of infections (food, water, soil, vector borne)

• Investigation of an epidemic

Orthopaedics

• major congenital orthopedic deformities

• bone and joint infections

• common bone tumors

Approach to clinical problems Growth and development

• precocious and delayed puberty

• developmental delay

• impaired learning

Neonatology

• low birth weight newborn

• sick newborn

Nutrition

• lactation management and complementary

• protein energy malnutrition feeding (underweight, wasting, stunting)

• failure to thrive and micronutrient deficiencies

Cardiovascular

• Murmur

• cyanosis

• congestive heart failure

• systemic hypertension

• arrhythmia

• shock

GIT and Liver

• Acute diarrhea

• persistent and chronic diarrhea

• abdominal pain and distension

• ascites

• vomiting

• constipation

• gastrointestinal bleeding

• jaundice

• hepatosplenomegaly

• hepatic failure and encephalopathy

Respiratory

• Cough/chronic cough

• hemoptysis

• wheezy child

• respiratory distress

Infections

• acute onset pyrexia

• prolonged pyrexia with and

• recurrent infections without localizing signs

• nosocomial infections

• fever with xanthema

Renal

• Hematuria/dysuria

• bladder/bowel incontinence

• voiding dysfunctions

• renal failure (acute and chronic)

• hypertension

Hematology and Oncology

• anemia

• bleeding

Neurology

• limping child

• convulsions

• paraplegia, quadriplegia

• cerebral palsy

• macrocephaly and microcephaly

• floppy infant

• acute flaccid paralysis

• headache

Endocrine

• thyroid swelling

• ambiguous genitalia

• obesity

• short stature

Miscellaneous

• skin rash

• lymphadenopathy

• epistaxis

• proptosis

• arthralgia, arthritis

Career Options

After completing an MD in Paediatrics, candidates will get employment opportunities in Government as well as in the Private sector.

In the Government sector, candidates have various options to choose from which include Registrar, Senior Resident, Demonstrator, Tutor, etc.

While in the Private sector the options include Resident Doctor, Consultant, Visiting Consultant Paediatrics, Junior Consultant, Senior Consultant Paediatrics, Consultant Paediatrics Specialist, etc.

Courses After MD in Paediatrics Course

MD in Pediatrics is a specialization course that can be pursued after finishing MBBS. After pursuing a specialization in MD (Paediatrics), a candidate could also pursue super specialization courses recognized by NMC, where MD (Paediatrics) is a feeder qualification.

DM Cardiology, DM Clinical Haematology, DM Endocrinology, DM Pulmonary Medicine, DM Neurology, DM Nephrology, DM Hepatology, DM Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, DM Infectious Disease, DM Medical Genetics, DM Critical Care Medicine, DM Paediatric Cardiology/Neonatology/Paediatric Gastroenterology/Paediatric Hepatology/Paediatric Nephrology/Paediatric Oncology are the courses that require an MD (Paediatrics) as a feeder qualification

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) – MD in Paediatrics Course

Question: What is an MD in Paediatrics?

Answer: MD Paediatrics or also known as MD in Paediatrics is a Postgraduate level course for doctors in India that is done by them after completion of their MBBS.

Question: What is the duration of an MD in Paediatrics?

Answer: MD in Paediatrics is a postgraduate programme of three years.

Question: What is the eligibility of an MD in Paediatrics?

Answer: Candidates must be in possession of an undergraduate MBBS degree from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India.

Question: What is the scope of an MD in Paediatrics?

Answer: MD in Paediatrics offers candidates various employment opportunities and career prospects.

Question: What is the average salary for an MD in Paediatrics postgraduate candidate?

Answer: The MD in Paediatrics candidate's average salary is Rs. 6 lakh – Rs. 15 lakh per annum.

Question: How do I become an MD pediatrician?

Answer: Through the NEET PG examination, students will get admission to 3 year MD course in which candidates can choose MD Pediatrics to pursue a career as a pediatrician. "A pediatrician is a children's specialist who diagnoses and treats injuries, dysfunctions, malignancies, infections, genetic defects, and organic diseases."

Question: Can we do MD Pediatrics after BHMS?

Answer: Yes you can. BHMS itself is a specialization course. After completing this you can pursue MD in pediatrics.