Says with 284 seats, J&K has set 100 more as target
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Sept 23: The Secretary, Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department, Bhupinder Kumar, today said that the implementation of the District DNB program has resulted in reduced patient referrals from peripheral areas, in addition to enhancing human resources and healthcare access for the people of J&K. He also unveiled the Government’s plan to secure an additional 100 seats under the NBEMS’s DNB program.
He made these remarks during an event “Communication in Healthcare,” hosted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) at Government Dental College, Srinagar. The event was also attended by the Union Minister of State, Dr Jitendra Singh along with the officials from the NBEMS.
“It (DNB program) has improved human resources in our peripheries, increased healthcare access, reduced referrals from peripheral hospitals to major tertiary hospitals, reduced surgery wait times, and raised overall patient satisfaction levels in these areas,” he affirmed.
Bhupinder informed the audience that there are currently a total of 284 DNB seats available in J&K. He emphasized, “We have a long road ahead, and we are determined to strive for another 100 seats as our target.”
“The District DNB program has seamlessly integrated Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of the country. This represents a significant contribution by the NBE, which would not have been possible without their generosity,” he acknowledged.
Furthermore, he mentioned that Gandhi Nagar Hospital in Jammu was the first in the UT to receive approval for the district DNB program in 2020, noting that the first PGs of the DNB program have successfully completed their exit exams, which, he said, demonstrates the program’s robustness, the quality of pedagogy, and the exposure these students received in district hospitals.
He also highlighted a unique distinction held by J&K, where a Sub-district Hospital (SDH) is running a DNB program. He stated, “Two such hospitals, SDH Kupwara and Sopore, have made the once-unthinkable a reality within the last four years.”
While sharing insights from his time as the Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla and later as Secretary, Bhupinder recalled how the Principal of GMC, Baramulla, used to approach him to address the issue of referrals from Kupwara.
He mentioned, “At that time, I did not know what Kupwara was facing. Perhaps they did not have good doctors, resulting in referrals. However, after becoming Secretary, I revisited the issue. The Principal informed me that significant improvements had occurred, and patient loads had decreased in Baramulla. This transformation can be attributed to the changes brought about by the DNB program.”
Secretary also referred to the recent visit of NITI Aayog Member Dr. V.K. Paul to Jammu, where he observed the successful implementation of the DNB program. He expressed his satisfaction in witnessing students from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Maharashtra pursuing their studies in various districts of Jammu & Kashmir.
He emphasized that students from various parts of the country are now gaining valuable exposure in J&K. He concluded, “I recently asked a student, who hails from a different part of the country but chose to study in Kupwara when other options were available, why he made that choice. He responded that the exposure he could gain here would be unparalleled and unavailable elsewhere. This showcases the resilience of our healthcare system and the tremendous faith the public places in it.”
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