We believe that quality healthcare begins with quality evidence. Quality evidence comes from carefully finding, evaluating, and applying the best available research to guide healthcare decisions. Structured literature searching and accurate referencing are at the heart of this process. Yet in India, there is a gap in training for these essential skills — the very foundation of strong research and evidence-based care.

The Problem We Address

Public health research is essential for better healthcare. It shapes policies, improves treatments, and helps healthcare professionals make decisions based on what works best for the population.

But, in India, students and professionals in health sciences are rarely taught how to find and use existing research effectively.

Systematic literature searching — the ability to identify what’s already known and what needs further study — is missing from the health sciences curricula even though there is a mention about it (See Section 3.4.4). Without it, researchers may duplicate work, miss key studies, or base their research on incomplete evidence.

This not only affects the quality of research but also how evidence translates into better patient care. If every health sciences student and researcher mastered these skills, India could greatly improve the quality and impact of its health research — and, in turn, healthcare outcomes for all citizens.

What QMed Has Done About This? 

QMed Knowledge Foundation was created to bridge this vital gap — to help every health professional, researcher, and student confidently search for relevant literature and find and use the best available evidence for treatment.

Since 2008, we have trained thousands of students, faculty, practitioners, and researchers in structured literature searching and reference management — the foundation for high-quality research and clinical decision-making.

Our founder, Ms. Vasumathi Sriganesh, has delivered close to 600 lectures and conducted nearly 280 workshops across India.

In 2018, QMed moved online, offering structured, self-paced courses in literature searching and referencing. After a revamp in 2020, these courses were launched on www.qmedcourses.in — accessible to individuals and institutions alike. Within the first year, over 4,800 learners enrolled. The portal began with three courses, and over the next five years, we added three more, along with a growing library of resources on research and writing.

A crucial mention – our Founder conducted a one day workshop at the Indian Council of Medical Research in November 2024, on Structure Literature Searching for authoring Systematic Reviews. The feedback speaks for our Vision!

We believe these courses should be a mandatory part of all health sciences curricula. Students trained early develop lasting research habits that strengthen their academic and professional journeys.

For researchers working on systematic reviews, QMed offers expert guidance to ensure every search is thorough and transparent.

Through all our efforts, we aim to ensure that India’s healthcare is guided by the best research evidence — improving research quality, clinical practice, and ultimately, the health of every citizen.

Special Mentions:

• Our Founder is recognized by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and the Maharashtra Medical Council (Speaker Code: MMC/MASS/00030/2016)
• She has received an International Award(2013) and a Lifetime Achievement Award (2024) for her pioneering work in improving health information literacy.
• In 2023, she also was successful in securing an Education Grant from Pfizer to run our workshops in ten AIIMS in India. QMed used the grant money effectively enough to do workshops at Ten AIIMS institutions and extended them to ten more local medical colleges.

A dream – We hope that in the future, we can help the public to also do meaningful Internet searches, to be more equipped with knowledge about their health conditions and have the right dialogues with their doctors for better healthcare

Database of lectures delivered    Database of workshops conducted    International Award    Lifetime Achievement Award

Every citizen in India receives healthcare that is guided by the best research evidence

Enabling the health sector to find and generate the best research evidence for effective healthcare

• Date of registration: 19-Dec-2007
• Trust Registration no: E-24663.
• FCRA Registration no: 083781318 – Valid till March 2027
• 80G Certificate
• Permanent Account Number – PAN:  AAATQ0120B
• TAN – MUMQ00811G
• GST No:  27AAATQ0120B1ZC
• NGO Darpan ID:  MH/2017/0171601
• CSR Registration Number – CSR00020412
• GuideStar India Transparency Key award for 2021. View our GuideStar India profile

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