Date:14/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/14/stories/2008041454030500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

NBE to offer fellowship in paediatric nephrology

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The National Board of Examinations (NBE) is open to starting a post-doctoral fellowship in paediatric nephrology as part of efforts at redressing the dearth of specialists, NBE president A. Rajasekaran said Sunday.

Addressing a continuing medical education programme organised by the Chennai Paediatric Kidney Foundation (CPKF) and Mehta Children’s Hospital, he said that while nephrologists and training facilities were few, paediatric nephrologists were fewer still.

The Board was already conducting two-year post-doctoral training programmes in 14 specialities, including paediatric urology, and it could consider adding a training course for paediatric nephrology, he said.

Noting with concern the increasing number of children with end-stage renal failure, Dr. Rajasekaran called for more emphasis on preventive nephrology programmes. Prevention should be the priority, followed by early identification and treatment.

The NBE style of education included a three-year family medicine programme under which medical graduates were exposed to surgery, medicine, casualty and paediatrics. A good general practitioner should have a significant orientation in nephrology, especially in understanding what drugs should not be prescribed, he said.

Dr. Rajasekaran urged candidates aspiring to specialise in paediatric nephrology to explore the avenues available for getting trained in the speciality.

Delivering the Dr. B. R. Nammalwar Oration instituted by the CPKF, Kishore Babu, paediatric nephrologist, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, said plasma therapy was showing promising results in the treatment of patients with non-diarrhoeal (D-negative) hemolytic uremic syndrome.