Development of Scientific Medical Journals of Kazakhstan: Editorship Opinion. Policy Brief

Abstract

Abstract / Key messages
What is the problem?
• Weak editorial policy: most of scientific medical journals in Kazakhstan do not have their own website and do not support open access to their content that makes difficulties in acceleration of the circulation of scientific knowledge; low level of peer review or its complete absence; frequent violation of the principles of publication ethics;
• Poor quality of the content of issues of domestic scientific medical journals: low level of scientific significance of published articles, which are not always relevant for the international scientific community and are little cited; low proportion of English-language articles, as well as insufficiently high level of their style and grammar;
• Absence of a comprehensive and dynamic system of expertise, monitoring and certification of scientific medical journals, standardization and regulatory control of editorial and publishing activities in general.
Policy options.
Option 1. State support for the promotion of Kazakhstani scientific medical journals into international scientometric databases by:
- development of a program for the development of scientific medical journals in Kazakhstan with a clear funding mechanism;
- development and implementation of specific measures to increase the demand for developing Kazakhstani scientific medical journals among domestic scientists (stimulating the development of highly cited research projects; revising the requirements for awarding academic titles in favor of domestic scientific journals; increasing the number of points awarded for articles published in domestic journals during rating assessment) ;
- development of effective mechanisms to attract reputable foreign scientists as authors and reviewers for Kazakhstani scientific medical journals;
- creation of an association of editors of scientific medical journals in Kazakhstan and systematic training of members of the association on best practice in publishing.
Option 2. Intensive development of scientific medical journals in Kazakhstan in accordance with the main international publishing standards at the level of the publishing house-owner, by:
- creating your own website for a medical scientific journal that meets the basic international requirements;
- introduction of a system of double "blind" reviewing;
- strict adherence to the principles of publication ethics.
Option 3. Creation of an integrated and dynamic system of examination, monitoring and certification of scientific medical journals, standardization and regulatory regulation of editorial and publishing activities at the level of the Ministry of Education and
Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, by:
- the introduction of a comprehensive and dynamic system of examination and monitoring of the activities of scientific, including medical, journals (as an option, on the basis of the National State Book Chamber in close cooperation with subdivisions
of state governing bodies in charge of the development and quality of science at the national and sectoral level, and also with associations of scientific journal editors; close cooperation of the team implementing the program for the development of scientific journals in Kazakhstan with the Content Selection Advisory Board of the Scopus team;
- joint responsibility of all participants in the publication process (editorial offices of journals, authors and organizations -
universities, scientific organizations, etc.) for the preparation of high-quality manuscripts and the development of scientific medical journals in Kazakhstan.
Policy options realization perspective Abovementioned three policy options are mutually supportive. Combined realization of these policy options will raise domestic medical scientific journals to a qualitatively new level.