NATIONAL BOARD OF EXAMINATIONS ANBAI MEETING 3 rd

NATIONAL BOARD OF EXAMINATIONS ANBAI MEETING 3 rd AUGUST, BANGALORE

I. FEES Discussion point a & b § NBE constituted a committee under the chairpersonship of Dr. R. N. Salhan. § The committee consulted various stakeholders who are involved and would be affected by the revision of fees for DNB candidates. § The committee has given its report for revision of fee rules and fee schedule & guidelines for the DNB candidates. § The committee has recommended the revision of fees to Rs, 100, 000 and has also prescribed a yearly breakup of fees for the candidates to prevent any immediate monetary burden on them and their families. Here comes your footer Page 2

I. FEES § The committee has also specified that the fee shall be paid by the candidate only through Demand Draft/Cheque/electronic transfer and under no circumstances by cash. § The committee has also made recommendations on the stipend for DNB candidates, which either be as mentioned below or as per State Government Norms, whichever is higher. For year 1 Rs. 22000/- For year 2 Rs. 23500/- For year 3 Rs. 25000/- Here comes your footer Page 3

I. FEES § For Post Diploma candidates, the stipend shall be as follows Year 1 Equivalent to DNB year 2 stipend Year 2 Equivalent to DNB year 3 stipend Here comes your footer Page 4

II. STUDENT RELATED ISSUES Discussion Point 1. Duty Hours § National Board of examinations has not prescribed in any of its guidelines, any specific number of hours for DNB students for performance of clinical/ hospital duties. § The candidates are required to be on duty and discharge clinical and hospital work as may be assigned by the hospital/ institution administration. Discussion Point 2. Announcement of Results of the DNB examinations § It is not possible to announce the results of DNB examinations institute wise. § However results are announced specialty wise both at NBE website and at NBE Notice Board as well as in NBE Annual Report. Here comes your footer Page 5

II. STUDENT RELATED ISSUES Discussion Point 3. Thesis Topic & Guide § The topic of thesis & details of proposed thesis guide are not asked immediately after joining of candidates. § Instead the same is required to be filled in the form for registration with NBE which can be submitted up to 30 days of joining the DNB training. § Keeping in view of 90 days time to submit thesis protocol, 30 days time is adequate enough to identify possible research area and thesis guide. § The same has been quoted in the allotment letter, registration form and registration guidelines stated in the handbook for counseling. Here comes your footer Page 6

At the Time of Counseling II. STUDENT RELATED ISSUES -Rank Letter -DNB CET Result Certificate -MBBS Degree certificate/ Provisional Pass Certificate of MBBS* -Permanent Registration certificate issued by MCI/State Medical Council for registration of MBBS qualification. -Proof of MBBS Qualification being recognized as per IMC Act/ Central Government. -Internship Completion Certificate -Mark sheets of all MBBS Professional Examinations. -Matriculation/High School/Higher Secondary Certificate as a proof of Date of Birth. -SC/ST/PWD/OBC certificate issued by competent authority, if applicable. -Caste certificate must be issued by competent authority. -Any document confirming the name of the institution/medical college from where the MBBS qualification was pursued. -Proof of identity -Any other relevant document. Here comes your footer Page 7 DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO NBE 30 Days -Duly filled Application Form– Registration as DNB Trainee -Bank Chalaan -Annexure A 90 Days Thesis Protocol Submission

II. STUDENT RELATED ISSUES Discussion Point 4 & 5: Misconduct of Students § National board of Examinations shall not ordinarily interfere in any dispute which is a work place dispute or an issue involving the accredited institute or the candidate. § However in rare or exceptional cases NBE may consider the issue for necessary action or adjudication. Here comes your footer Page 8

III. THESIS PROTOCOL Discussion Point 1. Guidelines regarding the submission of thesis protocol § The guidelines for writing and submission of thesis and thesis protocol are already available on National Board of Examinations website. Moreover accreditation is granted to the department having a PG teacher who is well experienced with guiding the student about how to write a thesis protocol and thesis. § It is far from understanding how candidates are finding it difficult to write thesis and protocol under guidance of well trained PG teachers who have wide teaching experience. § Based on your request, we shall be sending a compendium of guidelines to all DNB coordinators soon Discussion Point 2. Request of introduction of a system of e- acknowledgement of thesis § Already in Place Here comes your footer Page 9

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III. THESIS PROTOCOL § In the year 2012 -13, a total of 3657 number of thesis was received at the NBE office for assessment of which 100 percent have been processed. § 67. 8% (2481) have been accepted & communication has already been issued to the concerned candidates, 12% (438) have been advised modification & concerned candidates have been communicated to submit thesis after necessary modifications and 20. 2% (739) of thesis are still under assessment. § It is to mention here that 13 candidates have not submitted their modified thesis even more than 1 year after communication was issued though they were given 6 weeks time to modify thesis as advised. § 6 theses were reported lost during transit from concerned assessor to NBE. For administrative reasons, these candidates have been advised to resubmit a copy of their thesis to NBE. Here comes your footer Page 11

III. THESIS PROTOCOL § An alarming data has come out of the analysis done by NBE that more than 69. 6% (689) of June 2013 exam going candidates have not submitted their thesis for assessment to NBE in time. § For June 13 examination going candidates, the last date to submit thesis was 31 st of December 2012, only 30. 4% (301) of total expected thesis were received at NBE office. § To extend maximum benefits to the candidates, the cutoff date to submit thesis was extended twice. Even after extended cutoff date, 110 candidates failed to submit their thesis to NBE. § The institutions are requested to abide by the timelines for thesis submission which are well notified on NBE website as well as information bulletins published by NBE time to time. Here comes your footer Page 12

III. THESIS PROTOCOL § In circumstances where theses are submitted to NBE irregularly out of the schedule, it becomes very difficult to ensure completion of assessment process by the time candidate gets his/her DNB final exam result. This results into results/PPC getting withheld due to lack of thesis acceptance. Discussion Point 3. The review and acceptance of thesis protocol by NBE presently is taking a long time § In view of a number of thesis being received with not an expected quality of research work, NBE has taken a step forward to get all thesis protocols assessed centrally and to advise the candidates to modify their proposed research work accordingly. § This exercise was not satisfactorily delivered by the institutional ethical/research committees. Here comes your footer Page 13

III. THESIS PROTOCOL § Candidates are required to furnish thesis protocols to NBE within 90 days of their joining DNB training. However, it’s a rarity to see a protocol being submitted in time. § Institutions are forwarding protocols to NBE for assessment as late as the time when thesis submission cutoff date has been over/about to be over. In such IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE circumstances, it is not possible to offer assessment remarks on such protocols. § In 2012 -2013, around 1796 protocols were received in NBE office of which around 75% have been processed and outcome has been communicated to the candidates. Rests of the protocols are under assessment or can not be assessed as the deadline for thesis submission is already over/shortly approaching. § 95 out of 369 candidates who have been registered with NBE for DNB training in year 2013 have not submitted their thesis protocols despite 90 days timeline being over and each of them being reminded through individual telephonic calls. Here comes your footer Page 14

III. THESIS PROTOCOL § So far there is no administrative penalty being imposed on erring candidates/ institutions who fail to submit thesis protocol in time. Institutions are requested to encourage the candidates to submit thesis protocols to NBE well in time so as the outcome can be communicated in a timely manner. Here comes your footer Page 15

IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE Discussion point 1. Schedule of Inspection § NBE has defined and formulated a clear set of guidelines and criteria regarding inspection of hospitals/institutes. A calendar for accreditation of hospitals (both fresh and renewal) is a process of one year and NBE ensures that the same is maintained. § A case wherein inspection is delayed beyond prescribed schedule is due to compliance being awaited from the hospital regarding deficiencies noted in the application submitted. § The calendar for accreditation of hospitals is as follows: Here comes your footer Page 16

IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE Activity Time Frame Sale of forms All around the year Receiving of completed application 31 st Jan Scrutiny of Applications by NBE Feb-Mar Appointment of inspectors, completion of inspection and 1 st Apr- 15 th June receipt of reports Scrutiny of reports to be completed by 31 st July Accreditation Committee, Proceedings and Approval by Aug/Sep NBE Communication of deficiency, acceptance of reports, etc Aug-Sep Signing of Agreements with institutes/hospitals Oct Consideration of cases with compliance of deficiencies Oct Signing of Agreement Oct/ Nov Admission Process Nov-Dec Here comes your footer Page 17

IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE APPLICATION RECIEVED SCRUTINY DEFICIENT NO DEFICIENCY SEEK COMPLIANCE REPORT RECEIVED SCRUTINY NO DEFICIENCY Here comes your footer Page 18 NO DEFICIENCY SEEK COMPLIANCE

IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE Discussion point 2: Frequency & Schedule of External Appraisal § The purpose of local appraiser is to further improve the quality of training, assess the training infrastructure for the DNB candidates and also assist the local institutions to develop in to a center of academic excellence. § National Board appoints Local experts/appraisers from hospitals in the vicinity of the concerned Hospital/Medical Institute. § National Board is conducting appraisal of all the accredited Hospitals/Medical Institutes on an annual basis. The appraisal is done of the Hospitals/Medical Institutions all over India. § The feedback of the shortcomings observed and suggestions for further improvement is communicated to the concerned hospital/medical institute and each DNB trainee for further improvement. § The concerned Hospital/Medical Institute bears the remuneration expenses for the appointed local expert/appraiser Here comes your footer Page 19

IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE Discussion point 3: Completion of training for Jan 2013 Session § NBE shall make all possible efforts that the academic session of candidates registered through the second phase of counseling in August 2013 is not disturbed. § The candidates shall be able to undertake December 2015 DNB Final Examinations. IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE § However they will be required to complete their full training at their respective hospitals/ institutes as per NBE guidelines and complete their training by mid 2016. Discussion point 4: Appointment of Examiners § There is no kind of preference given by NBE to any particular state/ city for selection of professors and examiners for evaluation of theory papers or practical examinations. § NBE also ensures that most of the examiners appointed are from DNB institutes all Here comes your footer Page 20

IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE § Last year for the session of December 2012, approximately 800 examiners and assessors were appointed by NBE for theory and practical examinations from all over the country. Out of all the examiners appointed, around 70% of them were from various DNB institutes accredited with the NBE. § In December 2012, out of the total 165 assessors appointed for theory papers evaluation, 111 of them were from DNB institutes all over the country. § In practical examinations also, around 650 assessors were appointed by NBE from various institutes all over the country with majority of them coming from various DNB institutes accredited with NBE. Here comes your footer Page 21

V. COMMUNICATION § Each Department within NBE has a query handling unit as an integral part exclusively for the purpose of addressing specific queries from candidates and institutes. § Apart from departmental divisions a Contact Center has been established for receiving and sending large volume of telephonic and email queries. IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE § Also please be apprised that NBE has mentioned in all its guidelines that an e mail query shall be addressed only if it is not anonymous and contains the name, postal address and contact number of the sender. § An e mail containing vague or general queries seeking information already contained in the information bulletin shall not be entertained. Queries shall not be entertained from person claiming themselves to be representative, associate or officiates of the candidate/ institute. § Department wise data of e mail communication between the NBE and candidate for last 3 months is provided below: Here comes your footer Page 22

V. COMMUNICATION Department E mail Address April May Registration reg@natboard. edu. in 316 June Turn Around Time 1445 1201 With in 24 Counseling counseling@natboard. edu. in 70 1217 281 hrs to 7 days IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE Thesis & Protocol thesis@natboard. edu. in 127 147 135 depending upon the Final Section final@natboard. edu. in 1619 1024 1542 nature of the query MCQ Section cet@natboard. edu. in 194 283 398 Accreditation accr@natboard. edu. in 224 410 253 Communication Protocol: For Accreditation §Average time duration between the assessment report being received and communication being issued is around 30 days. Here comes your footer Page 23

V. COMMUNICATION § A reminder in advance regarding the expiry of accreditation is sent to all concerned Institutions/Hospitals. § A schedule for submission of application seeking fresh/renewal of accreditation is communicated to each NBE accredited hospitals/institutions by post and by email as well as a public notice in this regard is also uploaded on the NBE official website. IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE § 100% applications received for seeking fresh/renewal of accreditation are acknowledged. Communication Details of Contact Center 1. Email Communications via feedback@natboard. edu. in The NBE contact centre receives emails directly from candidates seeking various information related to examination, thesis status etc. The contact centre sends the queries to the respective sections for the solutions and then reverts back to the Here comes your footer Page 24 candidate.

V. COMMUNICATION Departments Number of Emails (Approx) Turn Around Time for Response/Acknowle dgement Turn Around Time for Solution/Answer FINAL 160 2 Working Hours 48 Working Hours* FMGE 45 2 Working Hours 48 Working Hours* IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE REGISTRATION & 60 COUNSELING 2 Working Hours 24 Working Hours* DEGREE & 15 CONVOCATION 2 Working Hours 48 Working Hours* THESIS 180 2 Working Hours 48 to 72 Working Hours* MISC. / FEEDBACK 100 2 Working Hours 48 Working Hours* * It may vary as per the nature of the query Here comes your footer Page 25

V. COMMUNICATION 2. Telephonic Communication § NBE Contact Center is functioning for both Inbound and Outbound calls. An Inbound Contact Center of NBE is operated by Candidate Care Executives (CCEs) to manage incoming quires from the candidates. § Outbound Contact Center of NBE is operated for calling the candidates/ doctors/ hospitals etc for providing them the information regarding their thesis status, results, hospital accreditation, CME workshops and for taking their valuable feedback which is used for internal trainings and improvements. SERVICE LEVEL PERCENT * MONTH NO OF CALLS OFFERED NO. OF CALLS ANSWERED Apr-13 5287 5062 95. 74 May-13 8947 8489 94. 88 Jun-13 8716 8420 96. 60 * Service Level Percent: The percentage of incoming calls that are answered by the Contact Center within a specified time period. Here comes your footer Page 26

V. COMMUNICATION § Many appreciation e mails have been received by the Candidate Care Executives from time to time. Between April and June 2013, 91 such mails have been received from the candidates. § Hence the assertion made is wrong and far from actual facts. IV. ASSESSMENT FOR ACCREDITATION AND SCHEDULE Here comes your footer Page 27

VI. ACCREDITATION Discussion Point a: Renewal of Accreditation § The statement made that timely inspections are not being conducted by NBE is completely baseless and vague allegation. In fact, NBE makes all possible efforts to ensure that timely inspection for hospitals/institutes are conducted so that accreditation can be granted to them as per prescribed schedule. Status of the Applications received for seeking Fresh/Renewal of Accreditation in the year 2012 Cases * % of Applications Processed (2012) Fresh Cases Application Received (2012) 237 91% Renewal Cases 466* 90% Out of these applications received, 150 applications were submitted by the Hospitals/Institutions after the prescribed cut of date of which 90 were for even June-2012 expiry. Here comes your footer Page 28

VI. ACCREDITATION § Communications to all concerned Institutions/Hospitals have already been issued. § Processing of less than 5% of Renewal cases is still ongoing primarily due to nonsubmission of compliance by concerned Hospitals/Institutions for deficiencies observed in the application/by NBE appointed assessor. § § VI. ACCREDITATION Processing of less than 4% of Fresh cases is still ongoing primarily due to nonsubmission of compliance by concerned Hospitals/Institutions for deficiencies observed in the application/by NBE appointed assessor. Please be apprised that the physical assessment is recommended only after NBE office has ensured that all necessary information is available in the application submitted by the institute/hospital. Assessment gets delayed if the compliance is not furnished or not furnished as per prescribed norms. Here comes your footer Page 29

VI. ACCREDITATION § Status of the Applications received for seeking Fresh/Renewal of Accreditation in the year 2013 A total of 604 applications (392 Renewal + 212 Fresh) seeking fresh/renewal of accreditation have been received in the current year. 100% applications have been acknowledged and further processed. 80 compliance reports are still awaited at the end of Hospitals/Institutions despite repeated reminders. VI. ACCREDITATION Discussion Point b: Inspection for Reaccreditation § It is not possible for NBE to upload Assessment Form A & B on NBE website as these forms are for restricted use by NBE appointed specialty assessor for NBE accreditation. Further, these forms if uploaded on the website are liable to abuse. Here comes your footer Page 30

VII. DNB EXAMINATIONS Discussion Point a § DNB Final Exit Examination is a highly structured examination which has been formulated keeping all the possibilities in mind. One single examiner or performance does not define the candidate as a whole. § Infact having different assessors for evaluating the candidates helps in increasing validity and reliability of the candidate assessment. Hence making such a statement that a dislike by an examiner can affect the result of the candidate is beyond understanding. During an assessment of the answer sheets, the examiner is evaluating the answers of the candidate and not him. Discussion Point b § § During objective assessment, NBE already has an itemized method of assessment in place which is followed by all the examiners. Hence the statement made that sub par performance in even one of the parts will effect the result of the candidate is a completely vague statement. Here comes your footer Page 31

VII. DNB EXAMINATIONS Discussion Point c § There has been no information or complaint from anyone of any such instance of candidates being humiliated by examiners from medical colleges. § Students are well aware of the fact that they are free to contact NBE if they face any problem during their examination or at the institute during training. Discussion Point d § The statement made about the fact that the pass rates in practical examinations are extremely low is completely vague and away from the truth. In December 2012, a total of 1910 candidates passed the practical examinations with a an overall passing percentage of 67 %. § The passing percentage for practical examinations for all the subjects in the session of December 2012 is given below: Here comes your footer Page 32

VII. DNB EXAMINATIONS Passing Percentage Subject Anaesthesiology 65. 61 Anatomy 90. 00 Biochemistry 75. 00 Cardio Thoracic Surgery 65. 61 Cardiology 90. 00 Dermatology & Venereology 61. 04 Endocrinology 77. 78 Family Medicine 64. 81 Forensic Medicine 100. 00 Gastroenterology 68. 00 General Medicine 40. 93 General Surgery 44. 04 Genito Urinary Surgery (Urology) 64. 42 Health Administration Here comes your footer Page 33 Hematology Including Hospital 42. 86 33. 33

VII. DNB EXAMINATIONS Immunohematology & Trans Fusion Medicine 100. 00 Medical Oncology 100. 00 Microbiology 63. 64 Neonatology 60. 00 Nephrology 76. 67 Neuro Surgery 41. 46 Neurology 82. 35 Nuclear Medicine 58. 82 Obstetrics And Gynecology 54. 69 Ophthalmology 69. 28 Orthopedic Surgery 46. 58 Otorhinolaryngology 46. 84 Paediatric Surgery Part – Ii 72. 73 Paediatrics 61. 69 Pathology 77. 78 Here comes your footer Page 34

VII. DNB EXAMINATIONS Peripheral Vascular Surgery 100. 00 Pharmacology 81. 82 Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation 100. 00 Physiology 75. 00 Plastic Surgery 43. 75 Psychiatry 52. 83 Radio Diagnosis 57. 98 Radio Therapy 58. 06 Respiratory Diseases 58. 82 Rheumatology 50. 00 Rural Surgery 83. 33 Social And Preventive Medicine 75. 00 Surgical Gastroenterology 64. 58 Surgical Oncology 60. 87 Here comes your footer Page 35

VIII. DNB Curriculum for General Surgery The curriculum for General Surgery is uploaded on the website. Here comes your footer Page 36

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