BMJ

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.
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 two Phases. Nominations will commence on Monday 20 January 2020, when eligible participants can upload their nominations via the website. Before nomination, please review:
Nominations will close at midnight Wednesday 18 March 2020. Shortlisted finalists will be announced on Friday 15 May 2020.

On Friday 3 July 2020, 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. Costs of participation (for those located outside of New Delhi) in the Awards will be borne by BMJ India. This covers 2 nights accommodation and the cheapest fare economy class travel based on the availability of flights for the finalists (one member only) from Thursday 2 July (check-in) to Friday 4 July (check-out), and unless specifically conveyed in writing to the applicant, should not be construed otherwise.
What do I do if I’ve made the shortlist?
You will be contacted by the Awards team and will be asked to provide some further information (if required), photos of your team and relevant documentation.
If I am shortlisted what are the judging dates?
The finalists will present to the jury panel members on Friday morning, 3 July 2020 and the winners will be announced on the same day in New Delhi.
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 New Delhi. 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 the declaration of finalists.
What format can I make my presentation in?
We ask that each presentation is made in PowerPoint. We will advise the dates we require your presentations by. Please ensure that you send in your presentations no later than midnight Friday 19 June 2020 to events@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 Friday 3 July at The Pullman Aerocity, New Delhi.
When and where is the Awards ceremony?
Friday 3 July at The Pullman Aerocity, New Delhi.
Is there a cost to attend The BMJ Awards South Asia Awards ceremony?
Up to three members of each shortlisted team will be invited to attend the ceremony for free. There will be a charge for any additional places – details to be announced soon.
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 that 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, the 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 awards@bmj.com or call us at or call us at +91-120-4345733 – 38 (09:30 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.

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