Importance of open access for clinicians and researchers in developing countries

The CMAJ editorial on the topic of open access1 is of special relevance for developing countries. I am a South Asian physician pursuing graduate studies in a Canadian institution, and the online availability of the latest medical literature through my university's subscription has opened up a new world for me, helping me to improve the quality of my research and my understanding of the issues. I am already dreading the loss of this privilege when I return home.

Medical schools and research centres in developing countries often cannot pay for the high cost of online journal access, and subscriptions to print versions are limited. In many cases, researchers have access only to abstracts (through PubMed [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi] and, more recently, Google Scholar [www.scholar.google.com]). It is difficult for residents on limited stipends to buy even single articles, which cost anywhere from US$10 upward. Furthermore, Internet access is limited, and safe online banking and credit card use are not available. As a result, residents and scientists use outdated sources for their research, which is reflected in the final quality and scientific rigour of their work.

The initiatives promoting open access that have been undertaken by CMAJ, BioMed Central (www.biomedcentral.com/), SciDev.Net (www.scidev.net/) and the Public Library of Science journals, among others, are laudable. However, the practice of making authors pay for online publication of their articles, as described in the CMAJ editorial,1 might dissuade researchers in developing countries from sharing their research results in international journals. Special discounts will need to be worked out, and journals will need to continue exploring innovative ways to support progress in open access and offset their costs.

CMAJ's experience has shown the advantages of an open-access policy.1 I hope that the journal continues its leadership in promoting equal opportunities and access in the global medical community.