Secretary Health reviews implementation of DNB program in JK

Jammu, Oct 27: Secretary Health and Medical Education, Bhupinder Kumar, Thursday convened a review meeting regarding implementation of Diplomate of National Board (DNB) courses in Jammu and Kashmir under National Board of Examinations (NBE) at Civil Secretariat here.
Secretary appreciated the DNB District Hospitals and Government Medical Colleges especially new GMCs for bagging a significant number of seats during the current session 2022.
Pertinent to mention that under DNB courses, J&K institutions have got the sanction of 250 seats during the current session and this is the maximum number of seats allocated in the country as acknowledged by NBEMS itself. These seats are over and above the MD/ MS seats of the UT.
Dr. Jitender Mehta, UT Nodal Officer, DNB Programme, J&K gave a detailed institution wise presentation and discussed the action plan for increasing the DNB institutions in the UT. He informed that 06 seats were approved for DHs in 2020 session and 145 seats (107 Broad-specialty and 38 Super-specialty) were approved for J&K in 2021 session. Of this, 2 students were admitted for 2020 session and 48 students were admitted for 2021 session in the DHs of J&K.
During 2022 Session, J&K has received an approval of 205 Broad specialty and 45 Super specialty seats. The counseling of All India quota seats is undergoing and till date, around 38 candidates from all over India have joined in the institutions of J&K.
While reviewing the institution wise status, Bhupinder Kumar applauded the work of CHC Kupwara, that has become the first CHC to bag the DNB seats in the country. He instructed all the institutions to implement and complete modalities for Quality certification and Kayakalp for improving the health care and quality standards. He further added that the results of DNB implementation shall be visible over the years as this shall drastically improve the healthcare services in Jammu and Kashmir,
Mission Director, NHM, J&K, Ayushi Sudan while giving details about the development said that the implementation of DNB courses in district hospitals of J&K is an important endeavour to address the key concerns of shortage of specialists and providing quality care, and added that District Hospitals shall be strengthened more so that the healthcare in the UT of J&K gets improved over a period of time. She informed that with adequate Quality certification, the institutions are likely to receive 10% extra incentive on Health Benefit Packages (HBPs) under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY.
While applauding the institutions, Secretary instructed all GMCs and District Hospitals to focus on filling the gaps and sticking to the timelines.
Director SKIMS Soura and SKIMS Bemina, Principals of Government Medical Colleges, Director Health Services, Jammu/Kashmir, all Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents and DNB Nodal Officers of all DNB District Hospitals were present.