Publication audit for the Year 2009 and revised guidelines for authors of Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences Shaukat Ali Jawaid Annual publication audit and its analysis by Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences is now a rou- tine for the last couple of years. 1-2 It helps to find out the strength as well as weaknesses and how best to plan for the future. A critical look at the Year 2009 has revealed that there has been a con- stant increase in the number of manuscripts be- ing received for publication from within the coun- try as well as overseas. During the Year under review we received 498 manuscripts as against 140 in 2004, 209 in 2005, 268 in 2006, 354 in 2007 and 427 in 2008. The number of manuscripts re- ceived from Pakistan has also shown steady in- crease starting from 78 in 2004 to 146 in 2009. (Table-I). While the total number of manuscripts received from Islamic Republic of Iran has re- mained almost the same 170 in 2009 as against 169 in 2008 there has been over 100% increase in manuscripts from Turkey, eighty in 2009 as against 34 in 2008 which is very encouraging. Similarly the number of manuscripts published in 2009 has also increased but not much, 214 in 2009 (excluding correspondence) as against 203 in 2008. The number of manuscripts published from Islamic Republic of Iran has slightly de- creased 72 in 2009 as against 89 in 2007 and 83 in 2008. This is quite understandable because of the strict peer review and quality control measures which are being enforced. Though disappoint- ing for some authors but it is essential to main- tain some reasonable standard. The number of manuscripts accepted and published during 2009 from Turkey has also substantially increased, 24 in 2009 as against just two in 2008 which depicts the increasing confidence of Turkish authors in Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. Manuscripts published from Pakistan has remained almost same during the last three years or showed a little decrease i.e. 81 in 2007 as against 61 in 2008 and just 70 in 2009. (Table-II). If we look at the cities in Pakistan from where most of the manuscripts were contributed dur- ing 2009, as expected Karachi remains on top 54, followed by Hyderabad with 26. (Table-III) It is again in line with the submission pattern reported by JPMA another reputed Pakistani Journal (Per- sonal communication). There are various reasons Shaukat Ali j awaid Managing Edit or Pakist an Journal of Medical Sciences E-mail: pj ms@pj ms.com.pk Table-I: Manuscript received (2004 – 2009) Country 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Australia - - - - - 01 Bangladesh 04 03 07 07 06 07 Bahrain - - - - 01 - Brunei - - - 01 - - Cameroon - 01 - - - 2 Canada 01 03 - - - - China - - 01 - 01 - Egypt - - 02 - - 01 India 02 09 04 21 06 10 Ireland 01 01 - 02 - Iran 21 74 90 149 169 170 Iraq - 02 03 02 04 09 Jordan 04 08 14 10 04 09 Kuwait 01 02 02 02 - 01 Lebanon 01 - - - - - Malaysia - - 03 01 03 04 Nepal 01 01 01 - - - Netherland - - 01 - - - Nigeria 02 07 16 32 34 33 Oman - - 03 01 - 01 Pakistan 78 76 90 98 123 146 Palestine 02 01 05 05 04 05 Poland 01 01 03 01 01 01 Qatar - 01 - - - - Romania - - - - - 01 Russia - - 02 - - - Saudi Arabia 09 10 11 11 21 20 South Africa - - - - 01 03 South Korea - - - - 02 03 Sudan - - - - - 02 Thailand 01 01 - - 01 01 Tunisia 02 - - - 01 03 Turkey 05 02 02 05 34 80 UAE 01 - - - 04 03 USA 02 01 - 02 - 01 UK 01 05 08 06 05 01 Total (33) 140 209 268 354 427 498 Publ i cat i on Audi t 500 Pak J Med Sci 2010 Vol. 26 No. 2 www.pjms.com.pk