Medical Writing in India: the 2013 Survey

We are at it again!

In 2008, I had conducted a survey on medical writing in India. Part of the survey was presented that year at the 68th annual conference of AMWA.

It showed that unlike in the West, the medical writers in India were incredibly qualified. Over 90% of them were from the life sciences background...something you do not see in US or UK.

Is the trend changing? Are more and more people with journalism background entering the field? Where do most medical writers in India work? Are most of them on staff jobs or working as freelance? How much does as average medical writer in India earn? Are most medical writers in India males or females? 

Help us find that out. Sauren and I are trying to figure out how the scenario has changed over the last 5 years. Please participate in this 10 min survey to help us understand the medical writing industry in the country better. 

Here's the form. You can fill it up from right here and submit if you haven't yet received an email from us. Please be very careful about not attempting this survey if you are not a medical writer in India.

Experience - A challenge as well as an opportunity

Earlier this month, I was speaking at the 4th Annual Conference of the Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR). I was there as a last minute replacement for the scheduled speaker who could not make it. My topic for the day was 'Opportunities and Challenges in Medical Writing'.

Lack of experienced medical writers in India is a major challenge. However, young medical writers can even look at it as an opportunity.

Medical Writing is relatively new in India. Oh yes, some of the oldest writings in the field of medicine like the Sushrutasamhita and the Charakasamhita are from India. What I mean here, is that Medical Writing as a  profession is a relatively new concept in India. There are very few medical writers in India who have a writing experience of over 5 years.

Data from an online survey I conducted in 2008, part of which was later presented at the 68th Annual Conference of AMWA in Louisville, KY the same year, showed that most medical writers in India had less than 5 years of experience. Nearly 90% of the respondents had less than 10 years of experience in the field.

This becomes a challenge for people deciding to outsource their writing to India. More often than not when I have had to hire writers for my work, I almost had to handhold them and teach them how to maintain uniform quality in their work. This is often more time consuming than doing the project on my own. However, with a little guidance some of the writers have learnt the skill really well. I am glad when I see their work.

And that's why I say that lack of experienced medical writers in India may be a challenge for service buyers. However, for service providers, it is an opportunity that they can cash on. If the young medical writers in this country work with sincerity and discipline, they can develop great skills. In this field, if you can provide the quality a client expects and stick to the deadlines, nobody is going to ask you about the training you have received or the number of years of experience you have in this field.

P.S. The complete report of the results of the first ever Survey of Medical Writers in India is available as a free bonus on ordering the ebook Becoming a Medical Writer (Indian Edition).