We believe that quality healthcare begins with quality evidence. To ensure this, we need to build evidence by carefully finding, evaluating, and applying the best available research to guide healthcare decisions. In this context, structured literature searching and accurate referencing play a central role in the process. However, in India, there remains a significant gap in training for these essential skills—thereby weakening the very foundation of strong research and evidence-based care.

The Problem We Address

Public health research is essential for better healthcare. It not only shapes policies, but also improves treatments, and helps healthcare professionals make decisions based on what works best for the population.

However, in India, students and professionals in health sciences rarely learn how to find and use existing research effectively. This because “Systematic literature searching” — the ability to identify what’s already known and what needs further study — is missing from the health sciences curricula. As a result – without this skill, researchers may duplicate work, miss key studies, or base their research on incomplete evidence. Interestingly there is a mention about it (See Section 3.4.4) in the curriculum. However teaching institutions have not implemented this skill.

This as a result, not only affects the quality of research but also how evidence translates into better patient care. But 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? 

We founded QMed Knowledge Foundation to bridge this vital gap — specifically, 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.

In addition, our founder, Ms. Vasumathi Sriganesh, has delivered hundreds of  lectures & webinars and conducted over 275 workshops across India.

Furthermore, 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.

Notably, our Founder conducted a one-day workshop at the Indian Council of Medical Research in November 2024 on structured literature searching for authoring systematic reviews. The feedback strongly reflects our vision and the impact of this work.

Therefore, we believe these courses should be a mandatory part of all health sciences curricula—because students who are trained early develop lasting research habits that strengthen both their academic and professional journeys.

Additionally, QMed offers expert guidance to researchers working on systematic reviews, ensuring that every search remains thorough and transparent.

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

Special Mentions:

• The Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and the Maharashtra Medical Council (Speaker Code: MMC/MASS/00030/2016) have both recognized our Founder as a speaker
• Our Founder received an International Award (2013) and a Lifetime Achievement Award (2024) for her pioneering work in improving health information literacy.
• In 2023, she succeeded 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

Founder’s & QMed’s Achievements at a Glance

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 – Valid till March 2032
• 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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