From the Editors’ Desk

Abstract

Onto the Fourth Year

The Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences (EJMS) is entering into its fourth year, and we begin this fourth year with several changes in the management, policies and review process.
First, the editorial board has been reconstituted to serve for the next two years, from 2022 to 2024. The editorial office represents a mix of previous and new associates. On behalf of the EJMS, we welcome each and every member to the new editorial board. We remain grateful to the many members who spent their time reviewing papers submitted for consideration. We recognize that it is the dedication of their time that makes the difference in ensuring that the papers submitted meet the journal’s rigorous standards. We welcome the expanded network of advisors offering their time and support. At the same time, we gratefully thank all the members who have served in different capacities in previous years.
As subscribers and readers will note, the EJMS now includes academic editors representing various backgrounds. The engagement of these academic editors will, we believe, contribute to improving and strengthening the quality of the materials published in the journal. The associate editors will have the support of assistant editors in the review process.
We have also introduced a two-tiered system into the review process. The first-tier will be limited to an internal review; and the review in this tier will be largely limited to ensuring all requirements and prerequisites are included in the submission, and that the paper meets the basic criteria for forwarding to the more detailed technical review. Only the submissions that pass through the first-tier will be subjected to further reviews with the assignment of an academic or responsible editor. The designated academic or responsible editor assumes the major responsibility in ensuring the quality of the paper, and s/he may engage up to two external reviewers before making a final recommendation to the chief editor. The final decision regarding the acceptance of the papers will rest jointly with the chief editor and the senior editor. We anticipate this two-tiered system will help expedite the review process, and also reduce the burden placed on external reviewers by asking them to evaluate only the papers that meet the basic standards. Only the papers that meet the minimal criteria will be forwarded to the reviewers.
Another change with the new volume is that papers will be published online first. This process will make sharing and publishing material a continual process. All the materials published online will eventually be complied into a single volume and published twice a year – mid and end of the calendar year. Yet another change the readers will note is the layout of the papers. This is represented by the two papers included in this online issue. As the template has undergone a complete transformation, any prospective authors planning to submit original research, review papers, and research papers are encouraged to check the declaration and related information items that are placed in-between the conclusion of a paper and the references.
Together with this new transformation, EJMS aims to make significant improvements in the overall quality of the papers and materials published in the journal. We recognize that this is a collective effort. But on the part of the editorial office, we are determined to maintain the quality of the papers published. We would also like to mention that while the EJMS office does not maintain staff for English language editing of materials submitted for publication, we have identified some publishing houses that we could recommend for editorial services. Thus, beyond the technical merit of a paper, language too will be one of the criteria for accepting a paper for publication.
At present, EJMS has been indexed in Google Scholar, NepMed, NepJol, CrossRef, Index Copernicus, Journal TOCs, and J-Gate. During the last three years, a total of 67 original research articles and 16 reviews, as well as several short communications and perspectives/opinions have been published. Of the original and review articles, the most cited related to COVID-19, the pandemic that consumed most of the time period from 2019 to 2022. The two articles in the current online publication also happen to be related to the pandemic. We aim to apply for indexing in the Web of Science and Scopus over the next two years. However, this will necessitate more attention to diversity in terms of the geographic coverage of the articles published and the authors represented. As of now, EJMS has not levied an article processing charge (APC) to the authors. This policy may, however, be revisited in the coming year.
We look forward to receiving submissions, and with the help of editors, associates, and advisors, we remain committed to reaching a new height in the months to come. Welcome to the fourth year of the journal’s journey!

Shyam Thapa, PhD
Associate Senior Editor
Kapil Amgain, MD
Chief Editor