Mumbai, Jun 13 (IANS): The Mumbai-based Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH), which had been the centre for written exams of Britain's prestigious Member of Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) since 2009, will now also conduct the clinical examinations, an official said here Wednesday.

This will enable Indian doctors to obtain the globally-recognised qualification without having to fly to Britain, the official added.

"MRCPCH is a prestigious international exam recognised by the Indian government. Indian doctors have the opportunity to take an international post-graduate exam without having to leave the country," said Ramesh Mehta, Royal College's principal regional examiner for south Asia.

The first MRCPCH clinical examinations will be conducted at KDAH here June 16 and 17.

A team of senior consultants from Britain's National Health Service led by Mehta, along with Education and Assessment Advisor of MRCPCH Graeme Muir, will oversee the conduct of the examination in partnership with a team of senior consultants from India.

Once the Indian doctors clear the MRCPCH exams, they would be armed with advanced clinical knowledge and also be permitted to use the designation 'MRCPCH (UK)', or go for higher qualifications.

Santanu Sen, senior consultant paediatrician of KDAH and host examiner for MRCPCH, described it as "a rigorous examination where even the examiners had to train and be evaluated before being allowed to examine the candidates."

This time, only 48 paediatricians from India, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Brunei, Muscat, Singapore, Australia and from the UK will be appearing for the examinations, while a large number of candidates are awaiting for the next round, Sen said.