In the recent DNB Final examination conducted by NBE, less than one-in-five doctors who are doing post-graduate DNB orthopaedics has passed the final exam. In DNB ENT nearly two-thirds of the doctors did not pass the test. Additionally, only about 36% had passed the test in DNB paediatrics. The results released by NBE on November 24th were shocking to doctors who were completing the diplomate of the national board (DNB). The DNB passing rate is worse off for many specialties for the latest session of June 2021.
Doctors were told that the difficulty and disruption to the course of study caused by Covid will be considered in conducting the tests and when scoring them. But instead, the passing percentages indicate that, in addition to an extremely difficult exam the assessment also must have been harsh.
Senior officials at NBE blamed the poor performance on the poor preparation of medical professionals during Covid. Orthopaedic specialists claimed that If Covid was the cause that the results should be uniformly low across all areas of expertise. However, of the specialties in which more than 50 students were enrolled in the exam, the pass rate was close to 90-95% in obstetrics, gynaecology and along with dermatology, as well as over 60% in a variety of other areas such as general surgery and ophthalmology, radiology and psychiatry.
“DNB orthopaedics” is definitely prominent in the list of preferred specialties, and therefore only those who have an excellent score in the NEET PG exam are eligible for the qualification. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that more than 80% of doctors who specialize in orthopaedics have poor grades. If the low score is due to poor education at the institution, NBE is to be accountable for granting accreditation to institutions that are not of high quality. This is not accurate since some of the institutes that have no candidates pass are among the top.” said an orthopaedic resident doctor.
According to the data released by NBE the pass rate of DNB pediatrics has been low for the last three exams with the highest percentage being 43.4 percent in June 2020 session.
Only those who pass the theoretical exam can sit in the practical exam. Therefore, the final score of those who have passed the practical test and the DNB passing rate may become even lower. Moreover, there was barely any time between the result for the final exam being released and the following one scheduled to be held. It ensures that students have no time to challenge the results as they would immediately get busy preparing for the next chance to clear the exam.
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Vaibhav
Its not lack of training or quality education of institutes, Its exam pattern and unnecessary difficult questions being asked in exam.
Sandeep
I feel its the subjective evaluation techniques which do not evaluate candidates on uniform parameters.