Secretary Health reviews DNB Programme in JK

Jammu, Feb 6: Secretary Health and Medical Education, Bhupinder Kumar, Monday chaired a review meeting of Diplomate of National Board (DNB) courses in J&K under National Board of Examinations (NBE) here at Civil Secretariat.
Secretary appreciated the officers associated with the DNB programme which has brought laurels to the UT of Jammu & Kashmir for bagging 250 DNB seats during the session 2022. He also lauded the efforts of Principal of Government Medical Colleges, Director Health Services, Jammu/Kashmir and Chief Medical Officers for their efforts in securing a good number of DNB seats in District Hospitals and GMCs. He also asked them to explore seat enhancement for the next academic session.
Dr. Jitender Mehta, UT Nodal Officer, DNB Programme, J&K presented a detailed institution wise presentation and action plan for further increasing the DNB seats in the UT.
It was informed that during the session 2020, 21 seats were approved for J&K, which were further increased in 2021 with 145 more seats including 107 Broad-specialty and 38 Super-specialties. Of the approved seats, 11 students in 2020 session and 77 students in 2021 session were admitted in various institutions across J&K.
Besides, J&K has secured approval for 250 DNB seats comprising 205 Broad specialty and 45 Super specialty seats, out of which, 152 candidates have joined till date. Likewise, counseling for All India quota seats for Super specialty is still going on. Around 200 candidates from all over India have joined in the institutions of J&K since the launch of DNB courses in the UT.
Secretary issued Instructions for increased public health delivery standards through quality certification programmes such as Kayakalp. He emphasized that the results of implementation of DNB programme shall be visible over the years as it will address the key concerns of shortage of specialists and providing quality care in the peripheries.
Among others the meeting was attend by Director SKIMS Soura, Principals of Government Medical Colleges, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Director Finance HME, Principal SKIMS Bemina, Director Health Services, Jammu/ Kashmir, Deputy Director Planning, all Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents and DNB Nodal Officers.