The MD in Paediatrics program at the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Tribhuvan University, started in April 1997. It was introduced to meet the urgent need for trained child specialists in Nepal doctors who can work as consultants, teachers, and managers in child health programs. This program was launched with strong support from the University of Bergen, Norway.

The main goal of this program is to help improve child health in Nepal by producing skilled paediatricians. It also aims to build a strong team of healthcare professionals who can care for children across the country.

After completing the program, graduates will be able to:

• Identify and treat health problems in children, including emergencies.

• Lead healthcare teams that treat childhood diseases and promote healthy growth.

• Design and run child health programs that focus on prevention and community care.

• Conduct research on child health and find ways to solve local health problems.

• Help train health workers and guide them in child health-related learning.

• Support government and health officials by providing advice on child health policy and planning.

The learning process in this program includes:

• Full-time clinical work in the Department of Child Health.

• Taking care of patients under the guidance of expert doctors.

• Weekly presentations, discussions, and case reviews.

• Participating in seminars and symposia led by faculty.

• Helping to teach undergraduate medical students.

• Providing outpatient services and participating in community health camps.

• Working in special hospital units like neonatal care and paediatric ICUs.

• Visiting outreach clinics in rural areas for early detection and care of childhood disabilities.

• Completing a research project (thesis) under the guidance of faculty and submitting it six months before the final exam.

Evaluation in the program includes two types:

1. Formative Evaluation – Regular internal assessments during the training period.

2. Summative Evaluation – Final examination at the end of the program conducted by Tribhuvan University.

To apply for this program, you must:

• Have an MBBS degree or an equivalent qualification recognized in Nepal.

• Be registered with the Nepal Medical Council.

• If you are a foreign applicant, you must be registered in your country’s medical council.

• Have at least one year of clinical work experience (this does not apply to MDGP or basic medical science MD/MS).

• Score at least 50% in the entrance exam conducted by the Medical Education Commission (MEC).

Details of the entrance exam:

• Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with one correct answer out of four options (A, B, C, D).

• Total questions: 200

• Duration: 3 hours (with one voluntary toilet break after the first hour)

• Question distribution: 30% Recall, 50% Understanding, 20% Application

Subject-wise weightage of marks in the entrance exam:

Clinical Subjects

• Medicine: 18 marks

• Surgery: 18 marks

• Obstetrics & Gynaecology: 12 marks

• Paediatrics: 12 marks

• Orthopaedics: 10 marks

• ENT: 10 marks

• Ophthalmology: 7 marks

• Anaesthesiology: 7 marks

• Psychiatry: 7 marks

• Radiology: 7 marks

• Dermatology: 7 marks
  Total for Clinical Subjects: 115 marks

Basic Medical Sciences

• Anatomy: 12 marks

• Physiology: 12 marks

• Pathology: 10 marks

• Pharmacology: 10 marks

• Biochemistry: 8 marks

• Microbiology: 8 marks
  Total for Basic Sciences: 60 marks

Other subjects:

• Community Medicine and Research Methodology: 10 marks

• Forensic Medicine: 5 marks

• CPD topics (like medical ethics, infection prevention, BLS/ACLS, communication skills): 10 marks

Grand Total: 200 marks

This program helps you become a well-trained child health expert who can treat children, teach medical students, manage child health programs, and make a real difference in the community.