Karnataka PPP model trains over 300 DNB doctors, strengthens specialist healthcare access

Kolkata: Altogether 309 doctors have successfully completed Diplomate of National Board (DNB) training under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) involving the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), the Government of Karnataka, and the Association of National Board Accredited Institutions (ANBAI).

In addition, 171 DNB-qualified specialists are currently serving in government hospitals across Karnataka as part of their one-year service bond—bringing specialist care to rural and semi-urban communities.

So far, 36 DNB training centres have been established, including 16 in district hospitals and 20 in taluk hospitals. At present, 369 DNB students are enrolled and undergoing training in these government centres.

These figures were shared at the ANBAI Annual Conclave 2025, held at Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata, West Bengal, on September 7, during the release of a landmark publication titled “Transforming Healthcare Through Public–Private Partnerships: NBEMS, Government of Karnataka, and ANBAI – Insights from an IIM Bangalore Report.” The report was released in the presence of healthcare leaders, academic experts, and policymakers.

Authored by Prof. Raghunath (IIM Bangalore), Dr. Veethica Smriti (IIM Lucknow), and Dr. Alexander Thomas (Founder, ANBAI), the report documents a pioneering collaboration that is reshaping specialist medical education and rural healthcare in India. It presents the Karnataka model as a replicable and scalable solution for other states facing similar shortages in public healthcare delivery and specialist availability.

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At a time when India continues to face a pressing shortage of specialist doctors, especially in rural and underserved regions, this PPP model has brought a structural shift in how Karnataka develops its specialist doctor workforce. Through the initiative, postgraduate DNB training was introduced in district and taluk hospitals, with private accredited hospitals providing academic mentorship. This decentralised approach has made high-quality specialist training accessible where it is most needed.

The strategic partnership has not only expanded postgraduate training capacity but also strengthened specialist healthcare delivery at the grassroots level, directly benefiting millions of patients in Karnataka.

The IIM Bangalore case study highlights how the partnership between public institutions and private healthcare providers has transformed both specialist medical education and access to care.

“As of 2025, the initiative has delivered tangible and scalable outcomes. More than 300 doctors have successfully completed their DNB training under this model, and around 170 specialists are currently serving in government hospitals as part of their service bond, bringing much-needed care to rural and semi-urban areas. There are currently 36 government hospitals functioning as DNB training centres, including 20 taluk hospitals, with around 370 students actively enrolled. This model not only boosts training capacity but also strengthens specialist healthcare access at the grassroots,” the case study report reads.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Alexander Thomas, Founder and Patron of ANBAI, said, “It took us about 3–4 years to move from the planning stage to actual implementation. During this time, we supported students through various programmes in Karnataka and also trained teachers who had no prior experience in hospital-based teaching. Today, the outcomes in district hospitals are on par with, or even better than, corporate hospitals. IIM spent a year studying the shortages and has now prepared this document, which is being released.”

Dr. Abhijat Sheth, President of NBEMS, highlighted that this initiative shows how collaboration between regulatory bodies, state governments, and private institutions can create sustainable, high-impact healthcare reforms. According to him, the Karnataka success story offers a blueprint for replication across other Indian states, aiming to close the specialist doctor gap in public hospitals.

ANBAI Secretary Dr. Rahul Guha Biwas added, “ANBAI, a society committed to high-quality medical education, collaborated with the government through advocacy and joint efforts to ensure that doctors were trained and placed in talukas and district hospitals. Importantly, they didn’t stop there—by drawing on the wisdom of senior professors from IIM, they developed a case study that can be read and emulated by other states. With such bold steps, ANBAI has made significant progress toward universal healthcare.”

When asked about the sustainability of the PPP model in long term, Dr. Alexander Thomas told Medical Dialogues, “The public-private partnership model is very sustainable in the long run. Since it brings together the government, private hospitals, and national accreditation bodies, each partner contributes its strengths. This teamwork fills gaps in medical education and healthcare. Because responsibility is shared, the model doesn’t rely on just one group, making it strong and easier to expand. Such collaboration provides a solid foundation for steadily reducing the shortage of specialists in a lasting way.”

The case study report also flagged several future challenges: NBEMS degrees (DNB/DrNB) are still not seen as fully equivalent to MD/MS by some medical colleges; many district hospitals lack the required infrastructure; critics fear the rapid expansion may compromise training quality. Despite Karnataka’s progress, rural areas still face a 40% specialist shortfall. ANBAI has also been pushing for formal representation in NBEMS governance, though this remains under debate.

During the annual conclave, the leaders informed about the Centre of Alliance for Collaborative Health (COACH), which is a consortium of ANBAI, AHPI & CAHO. It is a collaborative platform formed by these three bodies to drive initiatives in healthcare quality, accreditation, and education.

Four key initiatives were highlighted under the COACH. These include the creation of a National Accreditation Readiness Support Cell, focusing on hospital accreditation and NBEMS–NMC accreditation, led by Dr. Sarvesh Agarwal, the development of quality standards for healthcare education, spearheaded by Dr. H.S. Chhabra, designing a curriculum for patient safety and quality care, undertaken by Dr. Lallu Joseph, and a study on students’ preferences for NMC vis-à-vis NBEMS programs and the reasons behind them, led by Dr. Shankar Sengupta and Dr. Rahul Guha Biswas. These initiatives aim to strengthen accreditation, education standards, patient safety, and evidence-based policy-making in medical education and healthcare delivery.

A host of distinguished medical leaders were present at the ANBAI Annual Conclave 2025, including Dr. H.S. Chhabra (President, ANBAI), Dr Alex Thomas (Founder and Patron), Dr. Rahul Guha Biswas (Secretary), Dr. Susri Ray Chaudhury (Secretary, West Bengal and Orissa Chapter), Dr Girdhar Gyani (Director General, AHPI), among others.