Entry to Medical Academia: Here is what the NMC TEQ guidelines say on MD - DNB equivalence

New Delhi: With the release of its draft Teachers Eligibility Qualifications Regulations 2021 (TEQ), the National Medical Commission, has spelt out the basic requirements for medical teachers spelling out the entry points Medical Academia. Amoungst other rules, the guidelines also specify criteria for establishing MD-DNB equivalence for PG as well as super specialsations 

Medical Dialogues had repeatedly written about the severe disadvantage that the DNB candidates were put to when the erstwhile MCI in 2017 had amended the regulations to call for a blanket additional 2-year SRship on all DNB passouts who were wanting to enter medical academia. Later, after much flack from the medical fraternity, in 2018, MCI partially took back the said guidelines, and presented new ones where equivalence was established for DNB degrees from Hospitals having more than 500 beds and where one of the three DNB supervisors classified to be eligible as as MCI faculty under the norms.  At the same time those who had passed from less than institutions with 500 beds would have to do additional one year SRship. 

Taking cue from the MCI, the new apex regulator National Medical Commisssion, has also carried forward similar criteria on bed strength, while removing the requirement for faculty 

Section 4 the the TEQ guidelines specifically talk about Determination of equivalence of the qualification of DNB (Broad Specialties) with MD/MS and DNB (Super Specialties) with DM/M.Ch.

The equivalence of Diplomat of National Board of Examination [DNB] (Broad Specialties) with MD/MS & DNB (Super-Specialties) with DM/MCh. shall be determined as under:-

4.1 Those candidates who have undergone DNB training in an institution that now runs NMC recognized postgraduate degree courses in a given subject, their DNB qualifications shall be considered at par with NMC recognized qualification in that subject only.

4.2 Those candidates who have undergone DNB training in a multi-speciality teaching hospital with at least 500 beds, involved in various postgraduate/super-specialty teaching programmes, such qualification shall be considered at par with NMC recognized qualification.

4.3 Those candidates who have undergone DNB training in both Broad Specialty and Super-Specialty courses in other locations/Institutions (100 to 500 bedded hospitals) shall work for one additional year as a senior resident in a NMC recognized/permitted institution for equivalence with MD/MS/DM/M.Ch.

4.4 Those candidates who have undergone DNB training in both Broad Specialty and Super-Specialty courses from an Institution not covered in sub-clauses 4.1 to 4.3 shall work for two additional years as Senior Resident in a NMC recognized/permitted Medical College/Institution for equivalence with MD/MS/DM/M.Ch.

4.5 Furthermore, persons possessing DNB qualifications on the basis of which they have already been promoted as Associate Professor/Professor in the concerned Department shall be treated at par with MD/MS in the broad specialty and DM/M.Ch in Super Specialty without any further teaching experience.