The National Board of Examinations established by the Ministry of Health & Family welfare awards Diplomate of National Board (DNB) in the superspeciality of Surgical Gastroenterology (SGE) along with many other superspecialities which are considered at par to degrees by other medical universities in India. While most of the national board degrees are recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI), the DNB in Surgical Gastroenterology is still not recognised by MCI.

The failure to recognise the degree by MCI prohibits the state medical councils from registering practioners their DNB in SGE. We have approached both the National Board and the MCI to get the degree recognised. The MCI has cited the need to have DNB in Surgical Gastroenterology included in the second schedule & part II of the third schedule to the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 in the Gazette of India for recognition. The National board has been telling us that the matter is under favourable consideration with the ministry of Health & Family welfare, but there has been no progress in the matter.

We urge you to look into the matter for prompt action paving way for MCI recognition of DNB in Surgical Gastroenterology at the earliest as most institutes require the MCI recognition and it can have medicolegal implications for the surgical practice of hundreds of doctors who have completed DNB in SGE successfully as well as those pursuing training in SGE with the national board.