DNB for foreign PG Doctors
As per the new proposed decision by the Board of Governors of the Medical Council of India (BoG of MCI), Indian origin doctors who took their post graduation from abroad can equate their PG degree to DNB by taking the DNB exam directly and skipping the 3 year training.
Earlier the Board of Governors of MCI had issued conditions for equating DNB to MD/MS/DM/M.Ch. Generally speaking DNB is equivalent to these degrees except in some cases.
The new proposal is meant to streamline more doctors to serve the country as there is shortage of qualified specialists presently. The MCI is mulling over the issue in consultation with NBE (National Board of Education).
Diplomate of National Board (DNB) is the title awarded by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to candidates who successfully complete their postgraduate or postdoctoral medical education in India. NBE is an autonomous academic body established in 1975 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, for standardizing postgraduate medical education and examinations in India.
The new decision by Board of Governors of the MCI to prescribe DNB exam for foreign medical post graduates from countries other than UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada (Medical Council of India has approved the PG from these countries as equivalent to MD/MS in India) has created mixed response from the general public as well as Doctor Communities in India.
Mostly Indian doctors have welcomed the decision, as it is a way to get the foreign degrees accepted in India, but there are serious protests as well. Overseas doctors (Indian and OCI) who had their PG from countries other than the five English speaking Nations can now return and practice in India by equating their medical PG with DNB. Formerly Indian origin doctors, who had their post graduation from foreign institutions not having MCI approval, were denied practicing in India and getting government jobs.
There is an opinion that a screening test like FMGE will do to solve the issue, so that foreign MD/MS is made equivalent to Indian MD/MS, rather than equating foreign PG to DNB which is regarded as rather discriminatory.
As there is no benchmark and official rule to compare the medical degrees from foreign nations, except the five English speaking ones, such degrees have no value in India. The proposal to introduce DNB exam for such category would pave the way for acceptance, and such practitioners can function as normal doctors in India. It is a welcome decision even though discriminatory, think many.
It is accused that this decision is biased as it gives more weight to the medical PG degree from US, UK, Australia, New Zealand & Canada over others and this is not justifiable. Therefore mostly the PG doctors demand a common test for all doctors irrespective of the country from where the degree was taken.
As of now PG medical degrees from abroad apart from those recognised by MCI are not valid in India. Legally such doctors cannot practice in India as well. As a solution MCI provides practice certificate to foreign medical graduates if they qualify the FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination).
On the average more than 5000 students go abroad for medical degree every year. The low fees in countries like Russia, China, Ukrain, Nepal and Bangladesh are the major reason for seeking a foreign medical degree. Even though the number of candidates who appear for FMGE is 10000+ every year, the pass percentage is below 15%, on the average.
On the average more than 5000 students go abroad for medical degree every year. The low fees in countries like Russia, China, Ukrain, Nepal and Bangladesh are the major reason for seeking a foreign medical degree. Even though the number of candidates who appear for FMGE is 10000+ every year, the pass percentage is below 15%, on the average.