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Completing your MBBS opens many opportunities. With an interest in children’s healthcare, pursuing paediatrics is an excellent decision. Read on to find the reasons to consider paediatrics among the many choices after MBBS and why choosing MRCPCH will be beneficial for your career.
Why Paediatricians Remain in Demand Worldwide
Child health is important and globally, many countries do not have adequate health professionals to take care of children. In most countries, the number of children is increasing while the number of child health consultants is decreasing. Furthermore, the number of children suffering from various health conditions is also on the rise. This situation is not going to change in the near future, which means there will be increasing global demand for expert paediatricians.
In the UK, Paediatrics is a speciality with persistent shortage of trained specialists. Similar conditions are observed in Australia and New Zealand. The GCC countries are trying to meet the demand for child health care by building more children’s hospitals.
While assessing the MBBS scope in future terms, you will learn that paediatrics is one of the few specialities with demand consistently shooting up. And most projections predict that this demand will grow steadily rather than being pushed down by automation or AI.
Paediatric Subspecialties
There are several different subspecialties available in paediatrics. The field offers
flexibility in your career journey. For instance, you may choose general paediatrics or could specialise in neonatal care or nutrition studies. You may also consider choosing public health paediatrics or infectious diseases. Some of the major subspecialities in paediatrics are:
- Neonatology focusing on intensive care for premature and critically ill newborns. This speciality is technically very demanding.
- Paediatric cardiology primarily lays attention on congenital heart diseases, interventional catheterisation, foetal echocardiography and more in babies.
- Paediatric oncology and haematology offers long-term care with high survival improvements in modern medicine.
- Paediatric intensive care (PICU) requires high-acuity, high-skill and sadly very much understaffed worldwide.
- Paediatric neurology, nephrology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, respiratory medicine which are all highly in-demand paediatric consultant pathways.deals with ADHD, autism, school health practices, safeguarding, and more.
Notably, General Paediatrics also remains a very strong career option in India and healthcare systems across the world.
Working in Children’s Hospitals
Paediatrics is a specialty that is always in demand. Leading children’s hospitals of the world have their international recruitment policies and appreciate the training and experience of paediatricians who come from outside their jurisdictions.
For most doctors interested in child health, training and consultant positions abroad are aspirational. There are numerous children’s hospitals and research centers across the world. Having the relevant skill and or training experience in paediatrics provides several options to work wherever you wish.
Why is Paediatrics a Rewarding Career
Given the nature of work and the impact it creates, paediatrics is a very rewarding career. Paediatricians have lower burnout rates compared to several specialties in medicine.
A career in paediatrics also provides an opportunity to pursue various research and policy related careers.
Salaries for paediatricians are considerably good, especially in the abroad countries. In the UK, consultants earn between £105,000 and £140,000. And notably, registrars earn much more than Indian junior doctors there. Australian consultants earn between AUD 250,000 and AUD 400,000. In the Gulf countries Paediatricians can earn even more, with tax-free salaries, and housing and schooling allowances for their families. In private practice in India, a paediatrician can become very successful, especially if they have a subspecialty in neonatology.
Creating a Strong Pathway with MRCPCH
After completing your MBBS, you may consider taking NEET-PG to specialise, like any other Indian MBBS graduate. However, there are other, better options to consider especially if you are planning to move abroad and build your career in a different country. The Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) is an excellent option for you to gain the necessary skills to build a career in child health.
To get your membership, you have to complete three theory based exams and a clinical skills examination to gain the fellowship of MRCPCH.
How MRCPCH Helps you Build your Career
In the UK MRCPCH offers direct entry into Speciality Training levels in Paediatrics, opening up the route to GMC Registration and consultant positions. Other countries, like Australia and the Gulf, also recognise and accept the MRCPCH, and offer a clear pathway to specialist training and practice. In India, the private health sector recognises the MRCPCH and offers a clear pathway to a career in paediatrics. Even though MRCPCH is not a direct licensing route in the US, it considerably strengthens the applications for research, fellowship and observations.
Passing the theory papers is only one part of the MRCPCH journey. The Clinical exam tests communication, child-appropriate examination skills, history-taking and video scenarios under strict time pressure. Success requires more than reading. It requires repeated practice and training to adapt to the UK-style clinical environment.
That is why StudyMEDIC’s 2-Year MRCPCH Clinical Training and Fellowship Program offers a complete pathway from exam preparation to clinical placement.
- Academic preparation for all MRCPCH exam parts, including the Clinical exam
- Hospital attachments at selected partner hospitals in India
- Mock circuits conducted under real exam conditions
- Personalised feedback from MRCPCH-qualified paediatricians and trained examiners
- Coaching for examination and communication practices
- Structured clinical rotations in paediatric departments under supervision
- Competency documentation, logbooks and consultant references
- Fellowship opportunities aligned with your MRCPCH pathway
- Global placement support after completing the qualification and required training
This program does more than help you pass MRCPCH. It helps you gain the academic knowledge, clinical experience, documented portfolio and professional confidence required to become appointable internationally.
From MRCPCH preparation and hospital training to fellowship and placement support get the complete solution for building your career in paediatrics.
By : patrick.cheriyan@studymedic.org
