MCI agreed to MD-DNB equivalence before amending Medical Teachers Eligibility Qualifications: Records

Ministry records show that the matter of MD-DNB equivalence was raised by the ministry before the approval and in the meeting dated 26/05/2017,  all parties concerned including the council agreed on DNB equivalence as per the notification dated 30/06/2012 and only after that acceptance was given and approval was sanctioned amendment to TEQ rules.     

Since the notification of June 2017 for Teachers Eligibility Qualifications (TEQ) has come out, hue and cry has circled around the medical fraternity with many feeling disadvantaged with the amendments that have been made to the requirements to become a medical faculty. Most disadvantaged with the notification are the DNB candidates who have pursued their degrees from non-MCI recognised institutes, whose degree has not been considered equivalent for the teaching career, and who would now have to undergo up to additional five years of training if they wish to pursue a career in medical academia.

However, recent developments show that amendments to the Act have come with a conditional approval on the grounds of the equivalence of the two degrees, as laid down by MCI in an earlier notification of 2012 and hence the amendments to TEQ may stand null and void if the said equivalence is not adhered to.

Issue:

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that MCI through an amendment notification dated 05/06/2017 revised the minimum qualification of Medical teachers with the Minimum qualification for becoming a senior resident, that is the first post in the academic ladder, as MD/MS from MCI recognized institutions.

With the gazette notification per se being silent on DNB qualifications, implications were reflected in the amended of Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998. The notification stated that DNB candidate from non-MCI recognized institutions would require two years additional teaching experience as Sr. Resident/Research Associate (CSIR) in an MCI recognized medical college/central institute to become eligible for the post of Assistant Professor in an MCI recognized Institute. Additionally, such candidates would have to do 3 years of Junior residency to join as a senior resident, which in many cases, would imply upto 5 years of additional service to become eligible to join the teaching positions in medical colleges

Read the whole issue at Medical Dialogues: MCI knocks DNBs out of academia 

DNB candidates across the country had clearly opposed the move stating that the gazette notification of 11/06/2012, established the MD-DNB equivalence for both MCI recognized medical colleges as well as non-MCI recognized hospitals that met the criteria laid down by the said MCI Gazette notification in terms of bed-strength and departments. In particular the notification states

i)Those candidates who have undergone DNB training in an institution which now runs MCI recognized postgraduate degree courses in a given subject, the' DNB qualifications shall be considered at par with MCI recognized qualification in that subject only.

ii)Those candidates who have undergone DNB training in a multi speciality teaching hospital with at least 500 beds, involved in various postgraduate/super­speciality teaching programmes provided that the one out of three DNB( supervisors (teachers) qualify as postgraduate teacher as per MCI norms in their previous appointment, and one out of remaining two should qualify as postgraduate teacher as per MCI regulations with the following bed requirement for teaching unit:

Postgraduate broad specialties Postgraduate superspecialities

30 beds per unit         50% beds should be 20 beds per unit         teaching beds.

Such qualifications shall be considered at par with MCI recognized qualification.

(iii)Additional training of one year for equivalence of DNB abroad specialties) with MD/MS & DNB(super-specialities) with DM/M.C.h- Those candidates who have undergone DNB training (both broad specialities d super-specialities) in hospital/institution other than mentioned in (ii) above, shall undergo one additional year of senior residency or equivalent training or research job in a MCI recognized hospital/institution, provided such qualifications are notified in the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations 2000".

Procedure:

Medical Council of India before notifying any notification has to attain the approval of Ministry of Health, which was also done in this case. Medical Dialogues team has a copy of the records of the Health Ministry of the procedure that was followed in this case. The response clearly reveals that the matter of DNB equivalence was raised by the ministry before the approval and in the meeting dated 26/05/2017,  all parties concerned including the council agreed on DNB equivalence as per the notification dated 30/06/2012 and only after that acceptance was given and approval was sanctioned for this notification.

Implications

It is clear from the records that if the approval was given conditional on the equivalence of the two degrees, it would stand null and void if the conditions of equivalence are not adhered to. Medical Dialogues team has written to all the stakeholders concerned including officials of the health ministry seeking response, clarification and the future course of action and is following up this issue

If you have any viewpoint, opinion on the issue, kindly write to Minister of health at hfwminister@gov.in  Secretary Health Ministry at secyhfw@gmail.com and Medical Dialogues medicaldialogues@gmail.com