Is DNB Degree recognised?

The DNB degree has a total of 54 specialties approved by the Centre which has been included in the DNB degree in the first schedule of the Act of Indian Medical Council, 1956.

Diplomate National Board (DNB) is a degree in postgraduate (PG) diploma awarded by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), an autonomous body recognised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is awarded mainly to the candidates who complete their PG or post-doctoral medical education under the NBE. The students who have completed their MD in their respective specialisations are also eligible to appear for the final DNB certification exam along with the regular DNB course candidates. The course of DNB is a three-year residency post-graduate program and provides a broad spectrum of specialisation.

Recognition

The DNB degree is recognised by the Government of India by the order of a Gazette. There also has been a notice issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that the degree of DNB should always be considered at par with the Doctorate of Medicine (MD) or Master of Science (MS) degree for doctoral studies. The DNB degree has a total of 54 specialties approved by the Centre which has been included in the DNB degree in the first schedule of the Act of Indian Medical Council, 1956. The degree of DNB is considered to be at par with a post-doctoral degree or post-graduation in medical which are not only awarded for specialisation in the medical field like other universities, but also for appointment to teaching posts. 

It has been recently announced that the DNB diploma which is offered by the NBE has gained recognition in the Middle East and Europe. The institute of RCS Edinburgh, the UK has started recognising surgeons who have completed the DNB degree in India and have completed their PG training in India. Therefore a surgeon who has attained their degree in from NBE, India by undergoing standardized training and exhibited their proficiency in the DNB exam can practice their medical profession in the UK. The degree of MS although quite tough to complete but still has been losing its credibility due to the high passing rate of 100 per cent in the exams. The degree of MS has been used as a means of selling a doctoral degree by the private institutes without proper development of the surgical knowledge and skills of the students. The concept of operative logbooks had been introduced to keep proper records of operations and surgeries. But the details of the logbooks are also being fabricated and falsified by the candidates. 

The passing rates of the DNB exam are low, 5-15 per cent, and what makes it tougher is the standard of the degree and exam. Even the admissions to the DNB are centralized and there is no scope for manipulation. This makes it a much more superior degree than the other PG degrees in medicine. The training and practice in the DNB institutions are much more advanced and they are exposed to the latest pieces of equipment and technologies which makes it more recognisable in other developed countries.