This document discusses improving medical research in Pakistan. It notes that while developed nations have a strong research culture, developing countries like those in SAARC have contributed very little to medical research and publications. This research deficit has negative health consequences. However, Pakistan is now seeing growing awareness of the importance of quality biomedical research. The author recommends that medical institutions in Pakistan follow the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan's model of allowing research papers in place of dissertations to streamline research activity and encourage quality research pursuits. Collaborative efforts across medical organizations will help build research infrastructure and produce internationally reputable research.

1. Sir,
Medical research and its publication constitutes a noble
cause. As doctors, it is indeed our obligation to share
professional experiences with other colleagues who
could employ these for the benefit and better care of
other patients. Research has become even more
important in this era of evidence based medicine where
safe and effective therapies are best guided by the latest
available best peer reviewed literature.1
While the developed nations have a long standing
research culture and continue to be the key contributors
to today's diverse scientific literature, there has been a
meagre research contribution from the developing
countries like ours.2 The SAARC (South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation) countries
collectively contributed to only 1.1% of the total PubMed
publications during the 25 years period from 1985-
2009.2 These include Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, and Afghanistan. In
sharp contrast to their negligible research output, these
countries constitute 20% of the world's population, and
bear a triple burden of persisting infectious diseases,
increasing non-communicable conditions, and a growing
menace of injuries and violence.2 This research deficit
has negative repercussions, setting a vicious cycle of
inappropriate health policies and ever increasing
disease burden.
Fortunately, we in Pakistan are now witnessing a
paradigm shift and growing awareness regarding the
importance of quality biomedical research.1,3,4 The
College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP)
allows its Fellowship trainees to publish research papers
instead of writing a dissertation. It would be worthwhile if
the CPSP publishes all the relevant data of the last ten
years with exact number of residents who published
papers in lieu of dissertation. The supervisors certainly
have to play pivotal role in motivating their residents to
opt for publishing quality papers rather than resorting to
the traditional trend of dissertation writing on topics
which are often repetitive and of no national or
international significance. Pakistan medical universities
offering higher medical education leading to the award of
degrees such as MD and MS may also follow the
example set forth by the CPSP and offer the choice of
publishing research papers instead of writing a
dissertation/thesis. This will streamline the research
activity of our universities.
It would also be worthwhile if the CPSP's residency
programmes entail a protracted research time of 3 - 6
months to encourage quality research pursuits.
Collaborative and dedicated efforts of various organi-
zations such as medical colleges, medical universities,
postgraduate medical institutions, CPSP, Pakistan
Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC), Higher Education
Commission (HEC), Pakistan Medical Research Council
(PMRC), local electronic medical media (especially
Pakmedinet.com), will usher in a new era of adequate
research infrastructure and quality research of inter-
national repute.
REFERENCES
1. Saaiq M, Zaman KU. Five years of annals of PIMS: eventful
journey and the way forward. Ann Pak Inst Med Sci 2010;
6:1-3.
2. Majumder MAA, Shaban SF, Rahman S, Rahman N, Ahmed
M, Abdulrahman KAB, et al. A PubMed-based quantitative
analysis of biomedical publications in the SAARC countries:
1985-2009. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2012; 22:560-4.
3. Riaz H, Rehman A. Inception of journal of Pakistan medical
students (JPMS): from a dream to reality. J Pak Med Stud
2011; 1:1-2.
4. Akhtar J. Research in the discipline of general surgery:
evidence based data. J Surg Pak 2010; 15:114-8.
Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan 2014, Vol. 24 (9): 701 701
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Improving Medical Research in
Pakistan
Muhammad Saaiq
Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns Care Centre,
Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad.
Correspondence: Dr. Muhammad Saaiq, Room No. 20,
Medical Officers (MO) Hostel, PIMS, Islamabad.
E-mail: muhammadsaaiq5@gmail.com
Received: June 13, 2013; Accepted: April 19, 2014.