THOUSANDS OF DNB DEGREE HOLDERS MADE INELIGIBLE TO BE MEDICAL TEACHER BY MCI

National medical forum is deeply concerned on the recent Notification dated 05/06/2017 of Medical Council of India excluding degree holders from applying and taking up jobs as senior residents and assistant professors.

Thousands of eligible qualified post graduates who are eligible and are ready to serve as the teaching faculty has been made ineligible by this notification.

As per the rules, there is a straight forward hierarchy in the field of medical education, that initiated from the point of senior residency, going up till professorship. The notice while on one hand has brought relaxation to many, it has spelt out major difficulties for those who pass out their DNBs from institutes that are not MCI recognised medical colleges (namely the large hospitals which offer DNB courses) Such students may find it extremely difficult to join academia with the current scenario.

The Legalities.

The Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998 spell out the minimum requirements for DNB pass outs to pursue a career in medical education. These can be divided into DNB pasts from MCI recognised institutes and those who pass out from institutes other than the MCI recognised Medical Colleges/ Central Institutes. The regulations for the two can be summarised as follows

For the candidates processing DNB Qualification from MCI recognized medical colleges/central institutes where there are no MD/MS courses running. The minimal qualifications are – “Three years teaching experience in the subject in a recognized medical college either during the DNB course or after possessing DNB qualification. The concerned candidate would also require one year of additional teaching/research experience in the concerned subject in a recognized medical college after obtaining DNB qualification.

For the candidates possessing DNB qualification from Centers other than of MCI recognized medical colleges/central institutes.the minimal qualification are- Three years teaching experience in the subject either during the DNB course or after possessing DNB qualification. The concerned candidate would require two years additional teaching experience as Sr. Resident/Research Associate (CSIR) in a MCI recognized medical college/central institute” to become eligible for becoming an Assistant Professor in an MCI recognized institute.”

Its clear, that those who pass out from private hospitals which are not recognised by MCI as medical colleges would have to additionally do two years of Senior Residency to be eligible for post of Assistant Professorship.

The problem for such DNB pass outs does not end there. Rules for Senior Residency states that DNB degree holders they can join as a senior resident only when they have passed out for MCI recognized medical college/ Central institute. If they have passed DNB degree from a non MCI recognized medical college/ institute they have to do 3 years of Junior residency to join as a senior resident to be further eligible for a teaching post of assistant professor.

Considering the above scenario, a DNB degree holder from a non-MCI recognised institute shall require 3 years of junior residency and 2 years of Senior residency, to be eligible for a teaching post of assistant professor, implying a clear 5 years of additional service if they dream to have a career in Medical Academia.

The Issue

While the legalities make it difficult for DNB pass outs from non MCI recognised institutes to pursue a career in academia, this decision likely affects a large number of degree holders who have pursued the DNB course based on the government declaration that DNB degree is equivalent to MD/MS degree for all practical purposes.

It also brings to light a serious bottleneck in the country’s efforts to address the shortage of doctors. To address the rising and pinching shortage of medical practitioners, government has announced a series of measures including adding 5000 PG seats this year primarily by revising the teacher student ratio at medical colleges, thus putting pressure on existing medical faculty. However, at the same time, the government is imposing restrictions and limitations on an army of readily available qualified physicians that can possibly join medical academia and ease pressure in addressing this major issue of shortage of medical practitioners in the country.

A meeting of DNB action group is soon being organised by National Medical Forum to plan its future actions against this draconian notification.