Srinagar, May 2: To advance medical education, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) has conducted inspections of two departments at Govt. Medical College (GMC) Handwara as part of the process to launch the Diplomate of National Board (DNB) program this year.
The medical college, which currently doesn’t offer any DNB seats, is working to fulfill accreditation requirements and the initiative aims to enhance specialized medical training and strengthen healthcare services in the region.
Principal of GMC Handwara, Prof. (Dr.) Khurshid Ahmad Wani, said that the college has applied for DNB accreditation in several eligible departments and has completed all necessary formalities.
“Inspections for two departments—Medicine and Surgery—have already been conducted by NBE assessors who evaluated Minimum Standard Requirements to grant accreditation,” he said.
Additional departments, including anesthesiology, pharmacology, and social and preventive medicine (SPM), are expected to be inspected in the next two weeks.
The college has proposed over 70 DNB seats, though the final number will depend on the outcome of the inspections and the assessors’ evaluations.
Officials at GMC Handwara are optimistic that the institution will meet the required standards, paving the way for postgraduate medical education.
“This is a major step towards improving healthcare services in Handwara. The DNB program will not only provide advanced training for doctors but also benefit patients through specialized care,” Prof. Khurshid said.
He expressed hope that the DNB program would commence soon, improving healthcare facilities and serving remote areas of the region.
The DNB program was introduced in Jammu and Kashmir to address the shortage of specialist doctors and improve public healthcare. Since then, the number of DNB seats in medical colleges and hospitals across the Union Territory has increased significantly.
A senior health department official noted that the implementation of DNB courses in J&K has led to a higher caseload, a broader case mix, and improved specialist services, especially in remote and underserved areas. It has also fostered a stronger academic and research environment in hospitals.
The official added that the DNB model has strengthened rural hospitals, reduced unnecessary referrals, and enhanced the quality of care in districts lacking medical colleges.
DNB courses were initially launched in five selected district hospitals and Community Health Centres (CHCs). Following their success, the program was expanded to other districts across Jammu and Kashmir.
Launched in 2019–20 to address the shortage of specialist doctors in rural hospitals, the DNB program is equivalent to the MD/MS postgraduate medical courses and is awarded by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS).
