CHALLENGES IN STARTING A NEW MEDICAL JOURNAL

Abstract

A journal is an educational magazine published in usual intervals and contains research articles written by experts in a demanding field of study.1 With the arrivalof Evidence Based Medicine (EBM), medical journals have become even more prized and scaled up. The excellence of these journals is mostly judged through impact factor (IF), indexation and peer examination. IF is regarded as a widely-accepted tool having impartiality.2
It was a great pleasure for me and my department to be entrusted with the duty of publishing the ‘Northwest Journal of Medical Sciences’ (NJMS). It was indeed a difficult task but with the required support and team work, we were able to publish this volume with minimum hassle in a short period of time.
To start a new journal, there is no agreed way to do the task. It all depends upon the wherewithalaccessible. However, there are some thoughts and points which can be pursued andimplemented.3 Theorder is not strict but should usethe International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)Recommendations for Conducting Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals.
RATIONALE OR ASSIGNMENT
There should be a rationale (purpose) of publication of a new journal. Who, what and why should be clearly acknowledged. Reader and the editorial team should be clearly indicated.
EXCELLENCE AND REPUTABLE SET
To face this test, the editorial staff of NJMS is striving hard to achieve and maintain quality and respectable standard of this journal. The peer examination system is strictly followed.
The standard of editing and presentation is being maintainedperthe ICMJE guidelines.
SELECTION OF EDITORIAL & ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
NJMS has a large and variedperspective advisory board for the journal.
EDITORIAL STAFF CAPABILITIES
Most of the editorial staff is working on a voluntary basis, because they are NJMS employees.All of them are equipped with good information and skill of research. In thebeginning, the job description of the editorial team was not clear. Now all the ambiguities have been removed and the job descriptions of all the team members have been explained and approved from the editorial board.
PEER EXAMINATION PROCEDURE
Modus Operandi Editorial Criteria for peer evaluation of articles was developed and approved by the editorial board members. The peer review process will be double blinded andkept classified. Nonetheless, editorial board will be the final authority to make the final decision.
REGISTRATION AND INDEXING
For maintenance and progress, the journal must be registered in agencies likeInternational Standard Serial Number (ISSN), Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) and covered by different index agencies, like Science Citation Index Expanded, Excerpta Medica etc.
In Pakistan, three bodies recognize medical journalsi.e. HEC, PM&DC and College of Physician & Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP).It is notclear whether it is obligatory or not for a medical journal to be registered with HEC prior to recognition by PM&DC but all CPSP listed journals are already recognized by HEC and PM&DC.4,5 All CPSP listed ten journals are PM&DC recognized and are given Index Pakistan (IP) Number by the PM&DC.6 HEC classifies its recognized journals into four categories; W, X, Y, and Z.7 In conclusion, starting a new medical journal is a challenging task. It is based on team work, under the administration of the field expertswho fulfilled this task..