- By News Desk
- Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:29 AM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
In a significant development for healthcare in the capital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital is set to launch a Doctorate of Medicine (DM) course in Paediatric Cardiology. This initiative, in collaboration with the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and recognised by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, aims to address the rising complexity of heart disease in newborns and children.
This new super-specialty course will make RML Hospital the third major institution in the country to offer such training, alongside PGI Chandigarh and AIIMS Delhi. Following approval from the Directorate General of Health Services, admissions for two seats will begin for the 2025-26 academic session, open to students who have completed their postgraduate medical studies. This program is expected to provide North India with a new cohort of pediatric cardiologists each year.
Addressing A Critical Need
According to Dr Dinesh Kumar, Head of the Paediatrics Department at RML Hospital, this step will bring significant relief for the treatment of congenital heart diseases and their complications in children. The hospital is already equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including echocardiography (since 2010), a cath lab (since 2019), and a cardiac ICU.
The launch of this course will not only produce trained specialists but also ensure that patients from economically weaker backgrounds have access to high-quality care. This will provide a vital alternative to expensive corporate hospitals, offering treatments that can cost lakhs of rupees for free at the government facility.
The Challenge Of Paediatric Heart Disease
India faces a severe shortage of pediatric cardiologists relative to its population and birth rate. Each year, thousands of children are born with congenital heart conditions such as holes in the heart, valve stenosis, or structural abnormalities of the blood vessels. Experts believe that the new program at RML will not only help train more doctors but also establish the hospital as a leading treatment center for pediatric heart disease in North India.