SRINAGAR: The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the start of DNB (Diplomats of National Board) Courses in the Tertiary Level and District Hospitals of the Jammu and Kashmir.
The spokesman said that Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed considerable improvement in the health sector over the years. In many health parameters, Jammu and Kashmir is ranked ahead of the national average. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has been brought down from 34 to 26 (eight points) alone in 2018, which is highest among all states.
However, there is still shortage of specialists in the District and Sub-District Hospitals. To address the shortage in rural/peripheral set-ups, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has authorized the National Board of Examination (NBE) to start DNB programmes in the State owned District/Provincial Hospitals having the potential to meet the minimum accreditation requirements.
The National Board of Examination conducts its postgraduate and postdoctoral programmes in teaching hospitals accredited by it and in medical colleges accredited by the MCI under the title of ‘DNB’. The DNB courses have been declared equivalent to MD/MS/other higher courses recognized by MCI.
The commencement of DNB courses in District Hospitals will be an important endeavor to address the key concerns of shortage of specialists in District Hospitals. With the implementation of DNB programme in Jammu and Kashmir, 225 DNB seats shall become available in such institutions by January 2020, thus giving opportunities of higher education to the doctors and increasing the availability of specialists in the District Hospitals. This programme is supported by National Health Mission (NHM) and with its implementation, Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PMJAY), shall also get boost in its implementation.
Once the DNB courses are started in core specialties of Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Anesthesia, Radiology and Pathology etc, the health care institutions are expected to deliver comprehensive range of specialized services especially teaching & research.
In a separate decision, SAC approved commencement of B.SC Paramedical Courses in the Super Specialty Hospitals at Jammu and Srinagar and in the Associated Hospitals of the new GMCs of Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Kathua and Rajouri.
