I recently came across a great post on LinkedIn by Ajit Sivaram – co-founder of U&I Trust. In this post he described what it is like to be a Founder of a not for profit organization in India. In approximately a dozen paras that he wrote, every line resonated with what I feel today.
People ask me why QMed is a not for profit. Next time I am asked this question, I am going to use Ajit’s answer:
“My work isn’t just charity. It’s necessary. It’s professional. It’s the hard, unglamorous labor of building the India we keep saying we want.” Something that no one else works on. But my terrific team and I do (for QMed’s mission).
Correct Literature searching and correct referencing, using a reference manager are two skills that every health professional MUST learn. Whether they do research or not. BUT, somehow this has not sunk in. Neither the National Medical Commission nor the Directors, Deans, Principals or any Heads have yet felt this is a MUST. Many have felt it is something “nice to know” or “useful”. But not yet critical and compulsory.
And that is what we are trying to change.
People also ask me – “Why can’t your target audience pay?”
My answer – “Till they understand the importance, or till it is made mandatory, they choose not to.
We are offering to make this change with an affordable solution – a platform – www.qmedcourses.in – where people can learn at their own pace and also interact with us. Or even invite us to their institution to conduct workshops.
The day when the NMC and related boards take this seriously enough – good things will happen:
- Students will see additional reading and research in a new light
- Research standards will improve
- Medical writing standards will improve
- We will generate good quality publications and not the large quantity that is happening today – where quality is not certain
- We will generate Indian evidence
- And QMed can prove that low cost solutions CAN make a big difference!
Here is a link to Ajit Sivaram’s excellent post. Highly recommended reading!
By Vasumathi Sriganesh