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Editorial Indian Pediatrics 2002; 39: 3-4 |
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From the Desk of Editor-in-Chief |
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Indian Pediatrics is now in its 39th year of publication. However, it is still young as compared to other established medical journals with over a century of existence like the Lancet, British Medical Journal and New England Journal of Medicine. From its inception in 1963, it has grown to be among the highly rated journals in Asia and enjoys wide readership and appreciation. This has ensured that a significant proportion of the best research from within the country earlier sent to journals abroad, is now finding its rightful place in our publication. As a policy original research remains central to each issue. Research, relevant and applicable to the needs of the country, is given precedence over other articles. This ensures that benefits of research percolate to everyday practice as well. In recent years, the journal has been restructured to encompass important and emerging issues. Subsequently there has been a substantial rise in the number of high quality manuscripts, both national and international, submitted to the editorial office. To cater to the needs of all readers, comprising postgraduate students, specialists, and academicians in institutions and private practitioners in various settings, the journal has kept an array of sections including Review, Personal Practice, Technology Update and Viewpoint. Consensus guidelines not only provide building blocks for decision making processes but also stimulate evidence based medical practice. This in turn helps in improving patient care across the nation. The section on images has also become very popular. Global updates and Clippings provide international news and glimpses of the latest work. Sections are constantly reviewed and modified to ensure that readers from all backgrounds have something substantial to look forward to in every issue. All papers submitted to the journal undergo peer review before being accepted or rejected for publication. Some papers are sent back to the authors for revision; a process often repeated to ensure high standards. The journal has an ethical committee and maintains a biostatistician to aid expert reviewers to scrutinize submissions. Despite an increase in the number of pages, only 40% of unsolicited papers are currently being published. The Internet will be central to global visibility of the journal. The free full text online version of Indian Pediatrics is also providing rapid connection to the indexing service, Medline. In future, some good articles submitted to the journal may have to be accommodated only in the electronic version. This could also facilitate rapid reader responses on issues needing urgent attention. The membership of the Academy has increased phenomenally and consequent growth in the work of the journal has led to a need to take a fresh stock of the situation. Indian Pediatrics is not a subscribed journal, which limits the financial options. The journal committee intends to rely on innovative strategies to overcome such constraints and resist commercial pressure. It is often portrayed that a journal belonging to a society is bound by compulsions and limitations and sometimes is compelled to cater to sectional interests. We will maintain the ‘independent’ publication process initiated by our predecessors. The journal needs to continue to follow international indexing norms stringently. There is already an indication that the ‘impact factor’ of the journal, a figure that reflects the use of papers published by the journal by academicians across the world, is rising. The Academy should be proud of its publication and lend full support towards its continued growth and economic health. I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to provide concrete suggestions for the future development of the journal and wish one and all, a Happy and Productive New Year. Panna Choudhury |
