NMC Publication Guidelines: Key Criteria for Faculty Promotions
The National Medical Commission's circular dated February 22, 2022, outlines the specific requirements for research publications to be considered for faculty promotions in medical colleges across India.
Acceptable Publication Types
To be considered for promotion, the research paper must be one of the following types:
- Original Research Paper: A detailed report of an empirical study.
- Meta-Analysis: A statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple scientific studies.
- Systematic Review: A comprehensive review of the scientific literature on a specific topic.
- Case Series: A report on a group of patients with similar diagnoses or treatments.
Mandatory Journal Indexing
The journal in which the paper is published must be indexed in at least one of the following databases:
- Medline: The U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) database.
- PubMed: A free search engine accessing the MEDLINE database and other life science journals.
- Central Science Citation Index: A database of scientific literature.
- Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE): A more comprehensive version of the Science Citation Index.
- Embase: A biomedical and pharmacological database.
- Scopus: A multidisciplinary database of abstracts and citations.
- Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): A curated list of high-quality open-access journals.
Clarifications and Changes from Previous Rules
Indexing Service Names
There has been some confusion regarding the names of certain indexing services. The appropriate terms are Embase (not "Expanded Embase") and Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) (not "Science Citation Index").
Validity of Print vs. Online Journals
Unlike previous rules where a print journal was often mandatory, the new circular does not specify that a journal must be in print format. This implies that online journals are also valid for promotions, as long as they meet the required indexing criteria.
Changes in Valid Author Positions
The earlier guidelines used to specify that only the first, second, third, and corresponding authors would get credit for a publication. The current NMC circular does not mention a limitation on the number of authors who can benefit. Therefore, it is generally assumed that all authors listed on a qualifying paper will receive credit. However, to be safe, it is always a good practice to ensure your name is listed as a first author, second author, or corresponding author to maximize your claim to the publication for promotion purposes.
Invalid Indexing Services
Previously, journals indexed in Index Copernicus were accepted. Under the new guidelines, journals with this indexing are no longer valid for promotions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Are all authors on a paper considered for promotion?
Yes, the latest NMC guidelines do not specify a limit on the number of authors. It can be safely assumed that all authors will get credit. However, being a first, second, or corresponding author is still a good practice.
2. Are conference papers or poster presentations valid for promotion?
No, the NMC guidelines explicitly mention only certain types of published papers—Original Research Papers, Meta-Analyses, Systematic Reviews, and Case Series. Conference papers and posters are not included.
3. What is the difference between PubMed and Medline?
PubMed is a free search engine that primarily accesses the Medline database. While Medline contains the core bibliographic data, PubMed also includes citations to articles from journals not indexed in Medline, as well as some ahead-of-print articles.
4. Is it necessary for the journal to be an Indian publication?
No, the guidelines only specify the required indexing services. The geographical location or country of origin of the journal is not a criterion.
5. How can I check if a journal is indexed in one of the approved databases?
You can directly check the official websites of the indexing services like Scopus, DOAJ, or PubMed. Many journal websites also prominently display their indexing information. Always verify this information on the official database site to avoid misinformation.