Medical research must address rural health challenges, says experts at workshop on research methodology

Rohtak, October 24, 2026: Medical research must go beyond publishing papers and generating scientific findings to deliver tangible benefits to patients and improve healthcare, particularly in rural India, said Dr Sanjay, nodal officer of the Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU) at PGIMS Rohtak.

He was speaking on the second day of a two-day workshop on research methodology organised by the MRU in collaboration with the Department of Health Research (DHR). Saturday’s sessions covered applied sampling, statistics, clinical trial analysis and research funding.

Dr Sanjay stressed the need to involve doctors working at community health centres (CHCs) in research so they could identify local health challenges and study them scientifically. He said some Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) projects had been initiated in Panipat to assess how research could be implemented in rural areas and its actual impact on people’s lives. Research, he added, should prioritise outcomes that directly benefit patients and communities.

Former senior professor and head of biostatistics at AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr R M Pandey, guided participants on sample size determination, sampling and randomisation. He emphasised that selecting an appropriate sample size and study population was fundamental to reliable research, warning that errors at this stage could compromise findings.

               Dr Sachin Mumbre, professor at Ashwini Rural Medical College, Solapur, discussed intention-to-treat, per-protocol and as-treated analyses in clinical trials. He highlighted the importance of sound study design and scientific data analysis in ensuring credible results, efficient use of resources and meaningful outcomes for patients.

DHR scientist Dr Deepika, from the Union Health Ministry in New Delhi, conducted a session on budgeting for grant proposals. She highlighted the availability of research funding through ICMR and DHR and stressed the importance of submitting well-prepared proposals.

Rural research gains momentum

Dr Mumbre said such workshops were encouraging researchers from rural India to develop research proposals, creating opportunities to understand local health concerns and find practical solutions.

Dean, Academic Affairs, Dr M G Vashishth, said the workshop concluded with hands-on group exercises and a valedictory function, allowing participants to apply the concepts they had learnt. Winners of a poster competition held as part of Research Day were also felicitated.

Dr Madhu Sharma, joint secretary and assistant nodal officer of the MRU; Dr Manjunath BC, In-charge of the Public Relations Department; Dr Neeti Mittal; Dr Ritika Arora; research scientists Dr Renu and Dr Meenakshi; and other participants attended the programme.