West Bengal hospitals to issue specialist diplomas

In a bid to increase the availability of the super speciality medical practitioners in the state, the government has taken initiative to run Diplomate of National Board (DNB ) courses in state and private hospitals.

Suryakanta Mishra, minister for health and family welfare, government of West Bengal, said the Medical Council of India (MCI) has recently allowed to run DNB courses in government colleges which also teaches post graduate degree courses in medicine and surgery among others.

This is expected to increase the number of doctors qualified with speciality areas like orthopedic, neurosurgery, nephrology, cardio vascular etc. and ease pressure on the existing system, the minister said.

"There is a demand and supply gap leading to difficulty in maintaining discipline and also to increase in cost of medical services. We need more medical practitioners in the state," Mishra said adding that a long standing demand of the state was met.

Government could not tinker with MS/MD courses as it churned out professors for state colleges apart from speciality doctors.

"We are looking at how private hospitals can start teaching DNB," he said adding that teaching support system for non clinical study could be provided by the government to private players.

DNB is a diploma course and students can apply for it after passing the MBBS programme. The National Board of Examinations (NBE), established in 1975, at present conducts examinations in the following specialities leading to the award of Diplomate of National Board.

There are 39 medical disciplines identified by the Board for which approved training facilities are available in the country at present.

"The chairman of DNB will shortly visit Kolkata and the state government will discuss the issues pertaining to the courses in details," he added.

Speaking to the members of Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industries on Monday, the minister said the government was soon going to publish a comprehensive drug policy for the state. "The draft is almost ready," Mishra informed.

He urged the industry to make more investment in tertiary healthcare to decrease pressure on the government health system. He also called for more investment in setting up 'proper' private medical colleges.