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Biomedical publications in south Asian countries
1Department of General Medical and Clinical Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Indian Journal of Public Health
|May 8, 2004
Summary
Biomedical research productivity varies across South Asia. India and Sri Lanka lead in publications per capita, while India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal show higher output relative to GDP and physician numbers.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Bibliometrics
- South Asian Health Research
Background:
- Biomedical research is underdeveloped in South Asia, despite the region housing one-fifth of the global population.
- Assessing research output is crucial for understanding regional scientific contributions and identifying areas for development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare biomedical research productivity across South Asian countries.
- To identify leading nations in research output relative to population, economic factors, and healthcare infrastructure.
Main Methods:
- A bibliometric analysis of studies published between 1990 and 1998 was conducted using the MEDLINE database.
- Publication counts from South Asian countries were normalized by population size, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and physician numbers.
Main Results:
- India and Sri Lanka demonstrated higher publication rates when normalized by population.
- When normalized by GDP, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal showed increased productivity.
- Nepal and Sri Lanka led in research output relative to the number of physicians.
Conclusions:
- Research productivity in South Asia is not uniform and varies significantly based on normalization factors.
- India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal emerge as key contributors to biomedical research in the region, particularly when considering economic and healthcare context.