The Bihar government on October 15 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), New Delhi, to carry out medical courses designed to provide expertise to MBBS degree holders.

Under the MoU, the two medical courses, approved by Medical Council of India, which will be offered are-- CSP (College of Physicians & Surgeons of Mumbai) and DNB (Diplomate in National Board)--, Health department's Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar said. He said both are diploma courses.

PHFI's vice-chairman Prof Sanjay Jorpe and a host of health department officials were also present on the occasion. The courses will be offered in four subjects- anaesthesiology, child care, obstetrics and gynecology and bacteriology, he said. "There is shortage of experts in the state. Normally CPS and DNB courses are offered at medical colleges but if these courses are started at district hospital level then the shortage of expert doctors can be minimised to some extent in the state," Kumar said.

PHFI will provide technical support and hand holding to the state government in carrying out these courses which will be initially started at three district hospitals of Saharsa, Purnea and Nalanda, the Principal Secretary said. The admission to these courses will be made through NEET which is held for PG courses also, he said adding that general doctors (having MBBS degree) working at the government hospitals will be given priority/weightage of 15 marks in the examination.