About the Journal

About the Journal

Title of Journal: SIAL Journal of Medical Sciences

(ISSN Online: 2959-6939, Print: 2959-6920)

Frequency: Quarterly

Publisher: Sialkot Medical College

Address: Sialkot Medical College, 06 KM, Daska Road, Sialkot, Pakistan

Sial Journal of Medical Sciences is the official journal of Sialkot Medical College. It is an international, interdisciplinary, and broad-based online journal dedicated to publishing both basic and clinical research in the field of medical sciences, with a special focus on studies conducted in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), as defined by the World Health Organization.

The journal accepts a wide range of article types, including original research articles, short communications, reviews or mini-reviews, commentaries, perspectives, opinions, meta-analyses, case reports, case studies, and case-control studies. Submissions should focus on disease prevention, treatment, and overall improvement in health outcomes.

Aims & Scope

The Sial Journal of Medical Sciences (SJMS) is the official peer-reviewed journal of Sialkot Medical College, committed to advancing the frontiers of medical science by disseminating high-quality, evidence-based research. The journal serves as a global forum for the exchange of knowledge and ideas among clinicians, researchers, educators, and policymakers in the field of medicine and healthcare.

SJMS publishes original contributions that enhance understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases, with particular emphasis on healthcare challenges and innovations in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), as categorized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The journal recognizes the unique healthcare needs and resource constraints of LMICs and aims to promote equitable access to medical knowledge and solutions tailored to these settings.

The scope of the journal is broad, encompassing both basic science and clinical research, including but not limited to the following areas:

General Medicine and Medical Specialties (including Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Dermatology, Psychiatry, etc.)
Surgical and Allied Surgical Specialties (e.g., General Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Anesthesiology)
- Public Health, Community Medicine, and Epidemiology
- Health Policy, Health Systems, and Health Economics
- Biomedical, Basic Medical, and Translational Research (including Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology)
- Medical Education and Training (including curriculum development, assessment methods, and student learning outcomes)
- Innovations in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques (e.g., Imaging, Laboratory Diagnostics, Minimally Invasive Surgery)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine
- Preventive Medicine and Health Promotion
- Nursing, Physiotherapy, Radiography, and Other Allied Health Sciences
- Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Healthcare
- Behavioral Sciences and Medical Psychology
- Nutrition and Dietetics in Health and Disease
- Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Drug Safety
- Health Informatics, Telemedicine, and Digital Health Technologies

Types of articles published include:

Original Research Articles
Short Communications
Review Articles and Mini-Reviews
Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews
Commentaries and Expert Opinions
Case Reports, Case Studies, and Case-Control Studies
Perspectives and Hypothesis Papers

Editorial Policies & Journal Guidelines

Editorial Freedom & Independence:

The Chief Editor has full authority over the editorial content of the journal & the timing of publication of its content. The editorial team makes decisions on the authenticity & validity of the submitted manuscripts, in light of the journal’s aims & scopes. We are of the vision that the editorial decision-making process should be independent of all commercial concerns.

Manuscript Withdrawal by Author:

Once the article is submitted, the author grants the editorial board full publishing rights & it is the absolute right of the editorial board to decide on article withdrawals.

Peer Review Process:

Peer review is the unbiased critical assessment of manuscripts by experts. Each article submitted to SJMS for publication is reviewed by at least two (02) specialist of the concerned specialty as a single-blinded process.

Ethics Committee/ Institutional Review Board:

The journal requires a certificate from the respective Institutional review board and Ethics committee for the research encompassed in the submitted manuscript. All clinical investigations must be conducted according to the declaration of Helsinki principles. Journal has its own Ethics Committee and Institutional Review Board under the auspices of Imran Idrees Research Center. The articles which come through Imran Idrees Research Center are sent to Ethics Committee and Institutional Review Board of Sial Journal of Medical Sciences.

Plagiarism Prevention:

Manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using I-thenticate. The Journal has its own access for I-thenticate. After checking the plagiarism in the content submitted and the journal has the right to inform the author and reject the manuscript based on set limits, which are not more than 19% excluding Bibliography.

Citations:

Research articles and non-research articles must cite appropriate and relevant literature in support of the claims made.

Confidentiality:

Editors will treat all manuscripts submitted to the Sial Journal of Medical Sciences in confidentiality. Our journal adheres to International Committee of Medical Journal Editors ICMJE Ethical Guidelines for peer reviewers.

Open Access Policy:

SJMS provides open access to its content with the vision that making research freely available to the public supports the global exchange of knowledge.

Disclaimer:

The content published represent(s) the opinion of the author(s). The editorial board makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of material(s) printed in the journal. However, conclusion(s) and statement(s) expressed are view(s) of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinion(s) of the editorial board of SJMS.

Instructions to Authors

Overview

Authors are invited to submit their manuscripts to the Sial Journal of Medical Sciences (SJMS). Submissions will first be assessed by an editor to determine their alignment with the journal's aims and scope. Suitable manuscripts will be forwarded for peer review. Acceptance is based on the quality, relevance, and originality of the research.

Before submission, authors are responsible for ensuring that:

All co-authors have approved the submission.
Permissions have been obtained for all copyrighted material (e.g., photos, datasets).
Where applicable, ethical approval has been secured from a relevant ethics committee.

Submissions not meeting minimum academic or formatting standards may be desk-rejected by the editorial team.

Submission Preparation Checklist

Ensure the following before submitting:

The submission adheres to the SJMS Author Guidelines.
The work is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.
All references are accurate and complete.
Tables and figures are clearly numbered and labeled.
Permissions for all third-party materials have been secured.
All authors have consented to authorship and submission.

Manuscript Submission

All submissions must be made electronically via SJMS’s online submission system (link to be provided).
Manuscript files should be in DOCX or a compatible word processing format.

Manuscript Format

Font: Times New Roman, size 12
Line Spacing: Double
Margins: Minimum 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides
Page Numbers: Include on all pages

Manuscript Structure

Title Page: Include manuscript title, full author names with affiliations, and contact details of the corresponding author.
Abstract: Maximum 250 words summarizing background, methodology, results, and conclusion.
Keywords: 3–5 keywords relevant to the manuscript.
Introduction: Outline the background and importance of the research.
Materials and Methods: Describe the methodology clearly and concisely.
Results: Present findings with relevant tables and figures.
Discussion: Interpret findings in light of existing literature.
Conclusion: Summarize key outcomes of the research.
References: Use Vancouver style. Ensure consistency between in-text citations and the reference list.
Acknowledgments: Mention any support or funding sources.
Authorship Letter: Detail each author's name, qualifications, and specific contributions (e.g., conceptualization, data collection, writing).
Ethics Approval Letter: Attach ethical clearance documentation if applicable.

Corresponding Author

Only one author should be designated as the corresponding author. This individual will be responsible for all communication with the editorial office and will be listed as such in the published article.

Review and Decision Process

Editorial Review: The editor may reject manuscripts that do not align with the journal's standards or scope.
Peer Review: Submissions passing the editorial review will undergo peer review.
Reviewer Decision: The possible outcomes include:

Acceptance
Minor Revisions
Major Rewriting
Rejection

Reviewer feedback will be communicated to the corresponding author.

Consent and Exclusivity

All authors must confirm that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere and will not be submitted to another journal once accepted by SJMS.

Privacy Statement

SJMS is committed to safeguarding the privacy of authors and users. Personal information collected during manuscript submission or communication will only be used for editorial processes and service updates. Information may be shared with service providers (e.g., submission system vendors) or as legally required, but never without consent.