Choosing a paediatrician for your child is one of the most consequential healthcare decisions a parent makes — and it is one that is often made under pressure. These seven questions will help you evaluate any paediatrician you are considering.
Question 1: What Are the Doctor’s Qualifications?
In India, the standard of specialist care requires at least MD Pediatrics. Beyond that, additional international fellowships signal a doctor who has gone significantly further. MRCPCH or FRCPCH (UK) — fellowships from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health — bring a level of clinical rigour and exposure to complex paediatric cases that is genuinely different from standard training.
These are not honorary titles; they require passing rigorous international exams and completing recognised training programmes.
Question 2: Is the Doctor’s Location Workable for Our Family?
The best paediatrician in Bangalore is not useful to you if they are based in Koramangala and you live in Whitefield. A child’s illness often requires a same-day appointment, and the practicality of a 45-minute drive in Bangalore traffic — with a sick, feverish child in the back seat — should be a real factor.
Question 3: How Does the Doctor Handle Urgent or After-Hours Concerns?
Children spike fevers at 11pm and develop rashes on Sundays. Ask directly: what is the process if my child is unwell at night or on a weekend? The answer tells you a lot about how the practice is run and how much continuity of care you can expect.
Question 4: Does the Doctor Have Experience With My Child’s Specific History?
For neonates and ex-premature babies, a paediatrician who is also a trained neonatologist provides the most seamless care. The transition from NICU to outpatient follow-up is a clinically sensitive period, and having the same specialist continue the care is genuinely beneficial.
Question 5: What Is the Doctor’s Approach to Investigations?
A good paediatrician knows when to investigate, when to watch and wait, and when to refer. Over-investigation adds cost, anxiety, and unnecessary radiation exposure. When you meet a paediatrician, describe a common scenario and listen to how they explain their clinical reasoning.
Question 6: Does the Doctor Communicate in a Way That Works for Our Family?
A parent who does not understand the diagnosis or treatment plan may not follow through correctly. A good paediatrician speaks to parents in accessible language, explains why a treatment is being given, and sends the family home with a clear plan: what to do, what to watch for, and when to return.
Question 7: Is the Doctor Associated With a Quality Hospital?
Look for a paediatrician who practices at a hospital with a functioning paediatric emergency service, a Level II or Level III NICU, paediatric surgery availability, and a multidisciplinary specialist team. In Whitefield, Medicover Women & Children Hospital provides this infrastructure.
✓ Why Families Choose Dr. Diggikar
- FRCPCH (UK) & FRCPI (Ireland) — dual international fellowships
- Director of Neonatal-Perinatal Services, Medicover Whitefield
- 15+ years NICU & paediatric experience
- Clinics in Whitefield (mornings) & Banaswadi (evenings)
- 30+ indexed research publications · BMJ Associate Editor
“The right paediatrician for your family is one you will call without hesitation when something feels wrong — because you trust that the person on the other end will give you the right answer.” — Dr. Diggikar