Authors
Rakesh Aggarwal1, Nithya Gogtay2, Rajeev Kumar3, Peush Sahni4, for the Indian Association of Medical Journal Editors*
1Former Editor, Indian Journal of Gastroenterology
2Editor, Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
3Editor, Indian Journal of Urology
4President, Indian Association of Medical Journal Editors, The National Medical Journal of India, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi – 110 029, India.
Abstract
Background: The Medical Council of India (MCI) updated its guidelines in September 2015 for academic promotions, emphasizing research publications. While the intent to recognize research is laudable, these revised guidelines have introduced several contentious points regarding the assessment of scholarly work. This editorial critically examines these new regulations.
Objectives: To analyze the ambiguities and potential drawbacks of the MCI’s revised guidelines for academic promotions concerning research publications and to propose constructive amendments for a fairer evaluation system.
Analysis: The guidelines stipulate that publications in e-journals will not be considered, potentially excluding high-quality electronic-only journals. The list of acceptable indexing databases is found to be outdated and incomplete, omitting important sources like Science Citation Index and IndMed. The restriction to “Original research articles” overlooks the scientific value and rigor of meta-analyses and systematic reviews. The distinction between “national” and “international” journals is deemed unclear and irrelevant when quality is ensured by proper indexing. Furthermore, limiting authorship credit to only the first two authors is seen as restrictive, detrimental to collaborative research, and prone to encouraging authorship misconduct.
Conclusion: While appreciating the MCI’s intention to give research its due recognition and streamline promotions, the current guidelines require a significant rethink. Recommendations include accepting indexed e-journals, updating and expanding the list of recognized databases, broadening acceptable article types to include systematic reviews and meta-analyses, removing arbitrary distinctions between national/international journals, and granting credit to all authors for their contributions. These suggested changes aim to foster a more equitable and quality-driven research environment for medical teachers in India.