Some achievements, but many struggles ahead

Issues in Medical Ethics is now in its tenth year of existence, a very long time for a journal run almost entirely on voluntary labour. While this itself is an achievement, we are struggling on a number of levels. Comparing this financial report to the last year’s, there are some things for which we are grateful. Our income exceeds our expenditure, and – more important – the money we get from subscriptions covers our printing and postage. However, our subscription base has gone down from the previous year. Our falling subscription base is a cause for concern. Is it because the journal does not address potential readers’ interests? We have been trying to address the question of what our potential readers want, and welcome readers’ comments and contributions.

Is it because we are lax in our administrative follow-up of renewals? Most of the journal’s work done on a voluntary basis, much of it from members’ own offices and homes. As a result, work important to the organisation’s growth sometimes gets put aside till time and resources can be found. We are now trying actively to raise funds and hope that this enables more efficient functioning of the organisation.

Is our site ‘cannibalising’ into our subscription base? As a result of a massive effort this last year, our site, www.medicalethicsindia.org, contains all back issues of the journal. We decided after some discussion not to restrict access to the site’s contents even if a few people choose not to subscribe because of its availability on the internet. We believe that a journal of this type should reach as many people as possible.

This last year has seen a spurt in activities. Besides developing the site, and a CD, our members have also participated in a number of discussions on medical ethics, and organised workshops on the subject. We are in the process of establishing links with other organisations in the region. We have many more plans for the coming year. However, we depend on the support and involvement of all those interested in the subject, if we are to succeed in our goals.