Introduction

     A large number of medical students across the country conduct high level research and submit their theses for the fulfillment of Post Graduate degree courses. Valuable research conducted by students remains hidden from medical community, who may avail great benefit, if they are exposed and revealed for field level implementation for improving efficiency of health care. In most of these institutions/colleges, theses collections are kept under restricted use and circulation. And there is not way to bring them into the knowledge of medical students of other institutes, which leads to unnecessary duplication of research topics and wastage of national resources.

     Many countries in the world started national programme for repository and digitization of theses submitted to the institutes of higher education, so that the hard work spent on innovation of new ideas and new remedy for health care may be utilized for the benefit of humanity.

     It is high time for India, to initiate national level well structured programme for automation and digitization of collection of theses in the libraries of different medical colleges.

     Medical council of India (MCI) is also required to make electronic submission of theses compulsory for all PG degree courses in medicine in the country. If electronically created records are made available online, then they may get exposure to the world health community. Quantitative and qualitative research output of a country also reflects its scientific capability and achievement

     National Medical Library (NML) conducted a library software training programme in July 2007 with the financial support of WHO to trained 25 medical college librarians in WINISIS software. NML trained librarians to process collection of theses data of their medical college in WINISIS and to submit it to NML for the creation of an union catalogue of theses in medical sciences.

     NML also made its effort to collect database of theses from different medical colleges because it received very less output from trainee medical librarians. NML created database of about 7000 theses and processed them in WINISIS software.

     Each entry of the thesis contains Name of author; Name of guide; Thesis title; Name of degree & subject; Name of college; Year of submission; Location number of thesis etc. The Union catalogue contains theses from following medical colleges:

     It is hoped that the record will provide opportunity to medical students to consult these theses to gain experience from research conducted in the past and avoid duplication of research in future.

      Sh. Vipin Kumar made valuable contribution in data entry and data management. Sh. K C Singh, Ms. Sharada Mysore and Sh. Dharamvir (ALIO’s, NML) helped in collection of data from different medical colleges. Sh. Dalchand Sharma contributed data entry at the initial stage. Dr. (Mrs.) Anjana Chattopadhyay, Director, NML made contribution in collection, proof reading, editing and management of data processed.

     Dr. R K Srivastava, DGHS, Sh. Deepak Gupta, Special Secretary MOH & FW and Prof. P H Ananthanarayanan, DDG (M), DGHS are acknowledged for providing constant support and encouragement to NML staff.

     Support provided by WHO, country office, India, for the project of training programme is dually acknowledged.

Dr. (Mrs.) Anjana Chattopadhyay
Director