National Board of Examination governing body reconstituted

The governing body of the National Board of Examination (NBE), the regulatory body for postgraduate medical education in India has been reconstituted, the government said. “The governing body of the National Board of Examination (NBE) has been reconstituted vide gazette of India notification dated 17.6.16,” Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

Abhijat Sheth, director of medical services in Apollo hospital in Ahmedabad has been appointed as the president while other members include Jagdish Prasad, Director General of Health Services, Ved Prakash, Chairman UGC, Jayshree Mehta, president of Medical Council of India (MCI), Dibyendu Mazumdar, president of the Dental Council of India.

Other members also included S S Agarwal, president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Vinay Sheel Oberoi, secretary HRD Ministry, Vijaya Srivastava, financial advisor in the Ministry of Health. According to recent reports, the NBE has been asked to examine the problems which restricts the expansion of postgraduate medical education.

The NBE president, who is from a non-teaching hospital has been selected to head the highest regulatory authority for postgraduate education.

However, section of the medical fraternity has raised questions about the haste to reconstitute the NBE at a time when an expert committee appointed is examining issues pertaining to overhauling of Medical Council of India and is yet to submit its report.