Himachal Pradesh: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has suspended the Diplomate of National Board (DNB) course in the state. As a result, no DNB seats will be allotted in the state for the 2024-25 academic session. DNB is a three-year postgraduate course in medical science after completing MBBS and is considered equivalent to the postgraduate courses of Doctor in Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS). There are 30 seats for the DNB postgraduate course in the state’s medical colleges. Apart from this, there is also a two-year DNB diploma course and there are 15 seats for it. The seats have been temporarily suspended by NBEMS due to a case pending in the Himachal Pradesh High Court. NBEMS has directed us to stop the allocation of seats till the court’s decision. The suspension is likely to be revoked once the matter is decided,” said Dr Praveen Sharma, examination controller, Atal Medical and Research University, Himachal Pradesh.
It is being said that NBEMS has suspended the DNB course in the state after some students approached the court challenging its decision to transfer students pursuing DNB course from Hamirpur Medical College in the last academic session. “Since the matter is pending in the High Court, NBEMS has suspended the course in the state for the time being,” Dr Sharma said. According to sources, NBEMS had issued orders to transfer students pursuing DNB course to other colleges outside the state after some students complained that the college was not paying them stipend as recommended by NBEMS. “As per our postgraduate policy, students pursuing postgraduate course are required to fill a bond to serve in the state for a certain period.
If students fill the bond, they get the stipend,” sources said. If students don’t fill the bond, they don’t get the stipend.” Students pursuing DNB course at Hamirpur Medical College did not fill the bond, so they were not paid the stipend. But they still complained to NBEMS that they were not getting the stipend, which eventually led to a court case and the DNB course was suspended,” sources said. However, a senior healthcare professional fears that NBEMS may not resume the DNB course as it is a case of conflict of policies. “As per NBEMS policy, it is mandatory to pay stipend to students pursuing DNB course. In the state’s PG policy, it is not mandatory to pay stipend if the student does not sign the bond,” he said.
