DCIG invites you to submit a 1000- to 4000- word piece on a topic pertinent to low- and middle-income countries for a competition. The written pieces will be published on the IG website under the title “Emerging Issues Relevant to Developing Countries.” 

The winners of the competition will be awarded a monetary prize. There are four categories:

1. A 700 CAD first-place prize (a paper with 4000 words)
2. A 600 CAD second-place prize (a paper with 3000 words)
3. Two third-place prizes of 500 CAD each (paper with 2000 words); and,
4. Four additional prizes of 200 CAD each (paper with 1000 words).

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Please note the following: 

1. The topics must pertain to Covid-19/public health emergencies or health technologies or technologies for unmet needs or other topics of relevance to the needs of developing countries.
2. The winning paper may be published in IJTAHC after undergoing the required peer review process.
3. The author(s) of the winning essays must present their topic at a webinar within two months of receiving their award. This webinar will be open for all members to attend.
   1. The winners of the additional prizes of 200 CAD may present their topics at the same webinar as a single group. 
   2. The award money will be sent to the winners after the webinar’s conclusion. 
4. Only one submission is permitted per member or group of members. 
5. Submissions will be accepted until 30 April 2023, followed by a three-month review period. You will receive notifications in August 2023. 
6. If you would like your paper to be considered for the contest, please submit it to  [email protected]
7. In addition, the articles must adhere to the following criteria: 
   1. The concept is appropriate to HTA/HTAi
      1. It should align with the proposed topics
      2. The overall strategy, methodology, and analyses are well-reasoned and appropriate for achieving the specified objective of the paper
   2. The content leads to original and innovative contributions. A paper with original and innovative ideas based on one of the proposed themes will receive a higher score. 
      1. It addresses an innovative hypothesis or major barrier/issue to progress in the field
      2. It is based on novel concepts, approaches or methodologies, tools, or technologies
      3. It challenges current practices or existing paradigms.
   3. The paper meets the following quality and structural requirements
      1. Introduction:
         1. It provides scientific background, an explanation of the rationale, and a clear statement of the problem, topic, study purpose, objectives, and/or research hypothesis.
         2. It must be clearly stated to receive the highest score.
      2. Methods
         1. For quantitative and related studies, a clear perspective statement, data collection, data sources, and analyses, including statistical testing, policy analysis of alternatives, issues examined, and the like, were conducted.
         2. A clear description of the studied population, a method to accrue populations, a sample frame, and analytic techniques are required.
      3. Results
         1. The result section presents the important study findings (qualitative or quantitative), including (if relevant) generalizability to other populations, health systems, or countries.
      4. Conclusions
         1. It should provide a concise statement on important findings and policy implications. It should address the next steps and/or the optimal course of action, and study limitations

Please email us at [email protected] if you have any questions. Best of luck with your writing, and we wish you all the best.