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Rapid Responses: Rapid Responses published:
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Well done BMJ.
- Fawad Aslam, Murtaza Shakir. (10 April 2004)
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Looking for healthier and more prosperous countries
- Ali Asgar A Behranwala (6 May 2004)
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Acceptance of finding in policy is also a pretinent issues in this region
- Paras K Pokharel (18 May 2004)
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Fawad Aslam, Medical Student The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan., Murtaza Shakir.
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EDITOR – I congratulate you on the publication of the theme issue on South Asia. A wealth of information on the region’s burning problems (1) in the issue was very encouraging for a medical student like myself. I believe this initiative may very well serve to provide a much needed impetus to research in South Asia. The enhancement of scientific and technology capacity in developing countries is truly a necessity and not a luxury. (2) The role of journals in this regard is paramount. The low participation from developing countries in international research is well recognized. The researchers of the developing world should also be contributors to and not just users of the knowledge base in quality international journals. This however, is hampered by lack of resources, poor infrastructure and dearth of properly trained professionals. The journals can play an important part in this regard. They can help these authors with editing, developing skills and by conducting workshops. Journals can become truly international by having regional branches or sections which publish local studies rather than research carried out in western settings which do not always apply to developing countries. (3) Strengthening of local journals is also important. In Pakistan, three journals are indexed internationally. From January to August 2003, they published 214 articles. That is roughly 27 articles per month. Of these, 196 were hospital-based studies, 14 dealt with policy/planning while only 4 were community- based studies. None of the studies gave any basis of sample size calculation and in majority of the cases the described study design was incorrect. (4) In the year 2002, total number of registered doctors in Pakistan were 101635. (5) If we may take it as a measure of research productivity or interest, only 0.03% of the doctors in Pakistan publish a paper in the local indexed journals monthly. The contribution from nursing section in this regard is virtually non-existent. So what is the way forward? As mentioned in this issue, an enabling environment for research requires vision, institutional support, adequate funds, appropriate training, and attractive career pathways. An important role can be played by the community science departments of the medical colleges. Health science students should be made to understand the importance of health research in their training. They should be encouraged to participate in community projects and mentored by their institutions. They can begin by writing letters to editors! REFERENCES 1 - Sadana R, D’Souza C, Hyder AA, Chowdhury AMR. Importance of health research in South Asia. BMJ 2004; 328: 826-830. 2 - Momen H. The role of journals in enhancing health research in developing countries. Bull World Health Organ 2004; 82:163. 3 - Sitthi-amorn C, Somrongthong R. Strengthening health research capacity in developing countries: a critical element for achieving health equity. BMJ 2000; 321:813-817 4 - Rehan N. Medical research in Pakistan. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2003; 13:617. 5 - Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan. Economic survey of Pakistan, Health and Nutrition; 2002-03. http://www.finance.gov.pk/survey/chapters/12-Health.PDF (accessed 7 April 2004.) Competing interests: None declared |
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Ali Asgar A Behranwala, Specialist Registrar, Cardiothoracic Surgery Alder Hey Hopsital, Eaton Road , Liverpool L12 2AP
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I thank Ritu Sadana and co for analysing the issue surrounding the lack of research in South Asian Countries. I would like to raise another major issue which faces the lack of research in South Asian countries. Health has been given the least priority in the annual budget. In a country like India which has a population of over 1bn, the health budget is less than 2% of the total budget. This obviously affects the delivery of primary care, so where would be the funding for research? At present the health system in these countries is run mainly by the private sector. The private sector is driven by economics, thus again having poor funding for research. Vast numbers of patients go through the private health sector. Only proper collection of data would provide unimaginable clinical data, which could then be utilised to devise protocols for management of different illness. Thus in the long run we will be able to achieve a healthier population. This would also decrease the burden on the health system of these countries. Competing interests: None declared |
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Paras K Pokharel, Ascociate Professor BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences,Dharan,Nepal
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Dear All Nice idea about having good research in the region neglected and deprived because of complex & fabricated by the name of cast,customs,ethnicity,languages and so on.Lack of Institution localy to promote accepatable mechanism to influences in policy despite evidences of well established research.One more thing may be good to consider before spending money to get information; is there tendency to change and accept from findings ?There may be not knowledge gap but may be application gap.So focus may need side by side.Good information have value if it is used for the porpose. Competing interests: None declared |
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