E-drug: Free journal access (cont'd)
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Dear E-druggers,
It is really great that Gut follows other journals in free online access
to poor countries and hopefully even more journals will do the
same. Still, there is a lot to be said for paper copies of the journals,
both for the problems mentioned in the editorial (still limited
availability of computers, power cuts, slow access and download
etc) as well as others like, for instance, scarcity of printing paper.
Also, if you can't print what you need, how many screenfuls are
you able to read without feeling sick? Personally, not that many.
Moreover, browsing through journals without limiting oneself to a
priori interests does spark new ideas. Better health care is born not
only of application of existing knowledge, however sound it may
be, but also needs a good supply of innovative ideas. I think that
somewhat casual rather than totally focussed reading could foster
the creative potential of people working in developing countries.
After all, we who live in the North, do enjoy this type of privilege.
Valeria
--
Dr. Valeria Frighi
Diabetes Trials Unit
Radcliffe Infirmary
Woodstock Road
Oxford OX2 6HE
UK
tel +44-1865-228422
fax +44-1865-224584
e-mail valeria.frighi@dtu.ox.ac.uk
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