Run a paediatric consultation by listening to the parent's worry first, narrating the examination gently, explaining findings in plain words, and ending with the next visit or vaccination booked. Publish one written fee sheet with the consultation fee, follow-up policy and vaccination costs shown separately and plainly. Offer structured first-year care plans priced on value, make payment easy with UPI or monthly instalments, and never discount.
A paediatric consultation has an unusual shape. The patient cannot tell you what is wrong. The person who can, the parent, is often frightened, short of sleep and sometimes being second-guessed by a grandparent standing behind them. And the decision at the end is rarely "yes or no to a procedure". It is "do we trust this doctor with our child?"
Get the consultation and the pricing right, and that trust lasts for years. Get them wrong, and the family quietly moves to another clinic after the next vaccination.
How should a paediatric consultation run?
- Read the note first. The front desk has the child's age, the reason for the visit and the parent's main worry.
- Greet the child and the parent by name. It sounds small. Parents notice.
- Frame it. "First I'll hear what's been happening, then I'll examine her, and by the end you'll know what's going on and what we'll do."
- Listen to the parent fully. Ask what has been happening, for how long, what they have tried, and the question that matters most: what are you most worried about? Often the real worry is not the symptom they mentioned first.
- Narrate the examination gently. Say what you are checking and what you are finding, in simple words, so the parent is never left guessing.
- Explain plainly. What it is, what usually happens next, what to watch for, and when to call. Do it so the grandparent understands too.
- Write it down. Send a short summary and the plan on WhatsApp, so the other parent at work sees the same thing.
And when a child does not need medicines or tests, say so and explain why. That honesty is what parents tell other parents about.
If a grandparent questions the advice, do not brush it aside. Acknowledge it, explain your reasoning simply and with respect, and ask whether that answers their concern. In many Indian families, the grandparent's approval decides whether the parents come back. A doctor who takes two minutes to win the grandmother over has often won the whole family.
How do you end a paediatric consultation well?
Every consultation ends with a definite next step on the calendar:
- The next vaccination or well-baby visit, booked before the family leaves.
- A review slot, if the doctor wants to see the child again.
- A test, with a date and a review slot to discuss the result.
- A clear "no need to come back unless...", with exactly what to watch for and how to reach the clinic.
"Come back if needed" on its own is where families drift away.
How should paediatric fees be set?
Decide your fees once, write them down and say them plainly. Everyone, from the doctor to the front desk, quotes the same written fee sheet.
| Item | What the fee sheet should state |
|---|---|
| Consultation | The fee, and whether evening or Sunday consultations differ |
| Follow-up policy | Exactly when a follow-up visit is charged and when it is not |
| Vaccination visits | The consultation or administration fee and the cost of each vaccine, shown separately |
| Newborn and well-baby visits | The fee for each scheduled visit, or the plan that covers them |
| After-hours calls | What families can expect, and what it costs, if anything |
Vaccine questions are where trust is won or lost. Parents often ask about different vaccine options and their costs. Explain the options honestly, give the costs in writing before anything is given, and let parents choose with full information. Never push the most expensive option, and never make a parent feel judged for their choice. Write the options and costs on a simple sheet the parent can take home and show the family, and review the fee sheet with the team every quarter so nobody quotes an old price.
Do structured care plans work in paediatrics?
Often, yes, especially for the first year. Parents value predictability, and a plan turns a year of scattered visits into a clear journey.
Example: A first-year care plan might cover every scheduled well-baby visit, growth and development checks at each one, one session with a lactation or nutrition specialist, and priority booking for illness visits. Vaccines are listed separately at their own cost, so nothing is hidden. If the plan is ₹18,000 for the year, it can be paid as ₹1,500 a month.
If you offer three versions, keep each honest and different in outcome. Basic covers the scheduled visits. Recommended adds the specialist session and priority booking. Complete adds extended support, such as development assessments, where you genuinely offer them. Only promise availability you can deliver every single day.
What do you say when a parent asks for a discount?
Give your team one line: "Our fees are the same for every family. If budget is tight, we can suggest another plan or split the payment into instalments."
And hold to it, even when "the clinic down the road gives 10% off vaccines". Help the parent compare properly: who examines the child, how vaccines are stored and given, what follow-up and after-hours support looks like, and how long they will wait.
Example: Say your first-year plan is ₹18,000 and costs you ₹9,000 to deliver. Your profit is ₹9,000. A 20% discount drops the price to ₹14,400 and profit to ₹5,400. You would need about 67% more families just to stand still.
Make paying easy instead: UPI, cards, and monthly instalments for plans. Print the monthly figure next to the total on every written plan. And review your fees once a year, on one fixed date, for new families first, honouring every existing plan.
The full method is in Good Doctors Go Broke, and our conversion systems work builds the fee sheets, written plans and scripts.
The short version
- Listen to the parent's real worry, narrate the examination and explain so the whole family understands.
- End every visit with the next vaccination, review or test booked, or a clear "watch for this".
- Publish one fee sheet with consultation, follow-up policy and vaccine costs shown separately.
- Offer honest first-year plans with monthly payments, and promise only what you can deliver.
- Never discount, and help parents compare on care, not price. More on our paediatrics page.
Frequently asked questions
How should a paediatrician set consultation fees?
Look at what families in your area compare you with, decide whether you are positioned as premium, specialist or volume, and write the fees on one sheet everyone quotes from. State the consultation fee, any evening or Sunday difference and a clear follow-up policy. Review fees once a year on a fixed date.
How should a child clinic explain vaccine costs to parents?
Explain the options honestly in plain words, give every cost in writing before anything is given, and show the consultation or administration fee separately from the vaccine itself. Let parents choose with full information, never push the most expensive option and never make anyone feel judged for their choice.
Do first-year baby care packages work for paediatric clinics?
They can, when they are genuine plans: scheduled well-baby visits, growth and development checks, specialist support such as lactation or nutrition sessions, and priority booking, with vaccines listed separately at their own cost. Offer monthly payments, price on value and promise only availability you can truly deliver.
Should a paediatric clinic match a competitor's vaccine discount?
No. Discounts tell parents your price was never real and cut deeply into your margin. Quote the same fee sheet to every family, and help parents compare on what matters: who examines the child, how vaccines are stored and given, waiting times, follow-up and after-hours support.
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