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WikiDoctor

I know there are plenty of wikis around. I got interested in contributing to the wikipedia quite recently. I had another project on my mind - inspired by a friend. A website for Indian patients. The aim would be to provide simple, reliable, evidence-based, health/disease related information in english as well as every regional language of the country. The lack of a strong regulatory body for the medical profession combined with the collective ignorance of the common Indian public results in some very sad situations. I have often been a part of this in the past - a hapless spectator watching the system fail again and again. The surest way forward in my opinion is to empower the people with knowledge. With knowledge comes enquiry. With knowledge comes the freedom of choice. Patients can question the decisions taken by their healtcare providers. The informed patient is a formidable entity who can take on the medical practitioners whop often try to squeeze every last paisa out of a sick patient and his/her family.

This is where WikiDoctor comes in. A wiki in English and every Indian language, providing healtcare information. Eminent and 'honest' healthcare prefessionals will contribute to its developement. The information provided will be simple and evidence-based. Articles will be written to dispose off myths and superstitions using simple logic and common sense. Maybe a few articles about some of the top healthcare institutions in India.

A wiki dedicated to the dissemination of health related information to the common man in the Indian subcontinent. And, I cant wait for the day when a farmer asks me about the complications of a certain procedure that I propose to do on him. I cant wait for the day when patients in India act as a check on fradulent practices and medical incompetence. And, what better way to start off than start experimenting with building a wiki myself.

So, here is where I have got to so far.

* Wiki software research - complete
* Basic understanding of how it works - complete
* Chosen a wiki software - complete (initially chose pmwiki, then switched over to mediawiki for scalability)
* Installed a local mediawiki server on my computer - complete
* Uploaded an experimental wiki on to the internet - complete with pmwik

Pending jobs
* confirm name for wiki - WikiDoctor sounds good
* customise mediawiki
* translate into my own native language first
* design the first page to allow navigation to all major sections of the site
* create several stubs
* choose a good skin
* buy a domain and host the website
* get people invloved

HOLY S*&! - that is a lot of work!

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