Abstract
The informed netizen of today is in a state of information overload. With 785 million broadband subscribers and an urban and rural teledensity of 138% and 60%, respectively [1], India is already the second-largest online digital market. Today, in theory, medical journals and textbooks can be accessed by anyone, anytime, anywhere, and at affordable rates. Fifty odd years ago, when the authors entered medical school, the use of computers in medical education was unknown in India, as in other parts of the world. It was in this milieu, thirty-seven years ago, that eleven young Madras (Chennai)-based doctors decided to make medical literature easily accessible, particularly to clinicians in suburban and rural India. The aim was to make relevant, affordable reprints easily available to the practitioner at their place of work or study. Photocopying and using the postal service was the chosen, and indeed the only available, mode of operation. This article will outline the methodology used, trials and tribulations faced, and persistence displayed. At that time, the processes deployed appeared relevant and truly innovative. Over the ensuing years, developments in information technology made the services redundant. Extensive, even revolutionary, changes such as universal digitization and availability of a cost-effective Internet radically changed how medical literature could be accessed in India.
Highlights
For more than 200 years, clinicians and researchers have published their work in scientific and medical journals [2]
One of the founders of SMLRT who was returning to India acquired the entire contents of the medical library
Knowledge transfer needs to be supported by userfriendly materials and a communication strategy that enhances the credibility of the transferor, producing customer delight in the transferee
Summary
For more than 200 years, clinicians and researchers have published their work in scientific and medical journals [2]. The challenge before SMLRT was to help doctors surmount the cost barrier of subscribing to current journals and information sources. SMLRT began publishing a specially customised quarterly journal, InforMed. Diagrams, charts, and infographics (used well before the current infographics era) considerably increased the readability of articles. One of the founders of SMLRT who was returning to India acquired the entire contents of the medical library. SMLRT had access to several medical journals going back at least ten years Many of these journals were not available in India at that time, even in medical colleges.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
