Date:31/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/08/31/stories/2004083101771900.htm

Back Bengal allowed to run DNB courses in medical colleges

Our Bureau

Kolkata , Aug. 30

THE Union Health Ministry has allowed West Bengal to run Diploma of the National Board (DNB) courses in private and Government medical colleges in the State.

Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra, West Bengal Health Minister on Monday at a meeting at the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that the Centre recently through a notification allowed the State medical education institutions to conduct DNB courses parallel to degree courses.

Earlier, the Union Ministry and the Indian Medical Council were opposed to the idea on the grounds of academic purity and the "diplomats" or the diploma holders could be barred from joining medical college/university faculty.

The Minister saidt the State argued in favour of parallel courses to meet the functional needs of the working doctors. "In West Bengal, there is a serious dearth of specialised training in certain departments for a working physician, who is an MBBS. We accept the view that the diploma holders should not be on the faculty, but let us not stop them from serving people, who urgently need specialized care, particularly in the rural areas," the Minister, who himself is a physician by training.Dr Mishra said he had asked the chairman of DNB to visit the State for discussing the modalities of introducing courses in the institutions in the State.

He indicated that apart from Government colleges, one private hospital had shown an interest in DNB courses for its doctors and para-medical staff.

The Minister also said that a drug policy for the State was being finalised and would soon be released. The document is expected to outline the Government's vision on the healthcare sector, private-public partnership and use of Indian medicine systems.