FAQs | BMJ Awards South Asia 2018

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enter/submit nominations for BMJ Awards South Asia?
The awards are open to clinically led teams based in South Asia with projects active in the past year, i.e. at least one member of the team should be a doctor holding an MBBS degree.
Who are excluded from entering the Awards?
- BMJ staff and relatives
- Collaborations which involve the BMJ or its staff are ineligible for the BMJ Awards South Asia
What is the nomination procedure?
The Awards shortlisting process will be conducted in three Phases. Please follow the process outlined here.Phase 1 will commence on Friday, June 1, 2018, when eligible participants can upload their nominations on the website. Before nomination, please review:
Phase 1 nominations will close at midnight Sunday, August 19, 2018. Phase 1 finalists will be announced on Sunday, September 23, 2018.

Phase 2 of the nomination will commence on Monday, September 24, 2018, where shortlisted nominees from Phase 1 will be asked to submit documentation for Phase 2. Phase 2 nominations will close on midnight Friday, October 05, 2018. Phase 2 finalists will be announced on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

Phase 3- On Saturday, December 01, 2018, the finalists will be given an opportunity to present to the jury panel (comprising of senior editors from the BMJ journal’s editorial team, members of the BMJ’s South Asia editorial board and subject matter experts) and discuss the project in person. The finalists should expect to face questions on data, methods, impact, regional relevance, patient engagement, and scalability, among others. The judges will choose a winner based on their presentations and answers to the judges’ questions.
How much does it cost to enter?
Entries are free of charge, there is no nomination fee.
Is there a cost to attend?
No. Attendance is by invitation only.
What do I do if I’ve made the shortlist for Phase 1 & 2?
You will be contacted by the Awards team and will be asked to provide some further information, photos of your team and relevant documentation.
If I am shortlisted for Phase 2, what are the judging dates?
The finalists will present to the jury panel members on Saturday morning, December 01, 2018 and the winners will be announced on the same day in Chennai.
What is the final presentation and who is it to?
For the final judging you will be invited to attend a presentation opportunity in front of our panel of judges in Chennai. This will take the format of a short presentation given by you to the panel followed by a brief question and answer session. Presentation guidelines will be shared with you at the time of declaration of finalists.
What format can I make my presentation in?
We ask that each presentation is made in PowerPoint. Please ensure that you send in your presentations no later than midnight Saturday, November 10, 2018 to southasia.awards@bmj.com. We will provide a laptop and presentation devices.
When do I find out if I have won?
Winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony on Saturday, 01 December 2018 at Chennai
When and where is the Awards ceremony?
Saturday, 01 December 2018 at Chennai
What are the benefits of entering?
Our winners and finalists have indicated that the process of entering the BMJ Awards is extremely valuable in itself. It’s an opportunity to review key areas of success and what contributed to it. By submitting to the judging process, teams can benchmark against peers and competitors outside their organization. Teams that are shortlisted will have their profile raised at a national/South Asian level.
How do I make the most of my entry?
Clear, well-written entries which support claims with objective evidence stand out the most. If you provide supporting documentation this can help the judges to form a well-rounded view of the team, but only if it is relevant. Remember that the judges are looking for originality, size of benefit, potential for wider application and will weigh these against costs.
Do we receive anything for winning or being shortlisted?
The winning team will receive a trophy and certificate presented on stage by healthcare dignitaries and our esteemed jury panel. All shortlisted teams who present in the Jury Presentation round will receive a finalists’ certificate. If you have any further queries we have not answered, please email southasia.awards@bmj.com or call us at or call us at +91-120-4345733 – 38 (09:00 AM – 05:30 PM).
What is the conflict of interest policy for judges?
Once judges are finalized, we will make their names and compete for interest declarations available on this website.
a)We ask judges from the same current institution as an entrant or who are current collaborators with an entrant to recuse themselves from scoring that entry.
b)We expect judges to recuse themselves from the judging process if they know an entrant personally or have worked together with an entrant in the past.
What should I do if I wish to discuss the judging process for my entry or if I have a complaint?
In case of a complaint, an editorial committee from The BMJ will objectively look at the complaint and assess conflict as per (a) and (b) and the judge will be given a chance to explain. The decision of the editorial committee shall be final and binding.

© BMJ Publishing Group 2018