The Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (JCMSA) inclusion in PubMed Central marks a significant milestone for the journal and its contributors. This achievement solidifies JCMSA’s reputation as a leading open-access medical journal and underscores its commitment to advancing African medical and dental research. As an open-access journal, JCMSA ensures that its contributors’ work is freely accessible, enhancing global scientific visibility and fostering collaboration across disciplines and continents.

To celebrate this achievement, we spoke with JCMSA’s Editor-in-Chief, Professor Soraya Seedat, and Deputy Editor, Dr. Clint Hendrikse. They share their insights on the journal’s journey, the opportunities this recognition unlocks, and their vision for the future of African medical and dental research.

Questions for the Editor-in-Chief, Soraya Seedat:

1. What does the inclusion of the journal in PubMed Central mean for the journal and its contributors?
It’s an exciting milestone for JCMSA. Being indexed in PubMed Central signifies that the journal meets the rigorous scientific and publishing standards required by one of the world’s most respected biomedical databases. For our contributing authors, this means that their work will now be widely visible and easily accessible to clinicians, researchers and policymakers across the globe. Being indexed also enhances the discoverability, citation potential, and the overall impact of research that is published in JCMSA.

2. How does this recognition reflect the journal’s commitment to advancing rigorous scholarly research?
Well, inclusion in PubMed Central is a testament to JCMSA’s commitment to high-quality scholarship, scientific excellence and editorial integrity. From inception, we have sought to prioritise methodological rigour, ethical publishing practices, and publishing research that advances understanding and practice in clinical medicine, dentistry, and related disciplines, ta specialist level. This recognition underscores our ongoing dedication to upholding international standards of scientific publishing and ensuring that JCMSA becomes an internationally recognised journal.

3. What steps did the journal take to meet the high standards required for inclusion in PubMed Central?
Achieving inclusion in PubMed Central required a collaborative effort working with the AOSIS team. JCMSA adhered to stringent editorial and peer review processes. We also maintained a steady, consistent publication schedule, a good mix of different article types, and as a diamond open access journal are entirely committed to open access principles—all of which contributed to meeting PMC’s rigorous criteria.

4. How do you envision this milestone impacting the journal’s reach and influence within the academic and medical communities?
This milestone will significantly expand the journal’s visibility and reach. With all JCMSA articles now searchable through PubMed, our content becomes more accessible to the global clinical and research community, and will also mean greater engagement, collaboration, and citations. It positions JCMSA as a credible and influential platform for disseminating high-quality research relevant to clinicians, researchers, and policymakers throughout Africa and beyond.

5. What message would you like to share with the authors, reviewers, and readers who have supported the journal’s journey to this achievement?
This accomplishment belongs to the entire CMSA (Colleges of Medicine of South Africa) community. To our authors—thank you for trusting JCMSA with your work and for setting a high standard of scholarship. Please continue to submit. To our reviewers—your expertise and dedication have been vital in maintaining the scientific quality that defines – and will continue to define the journal. Encourage your colleagues and early career clincians aspiring to become journal editors in the future to reach out to us, get involved and help us shape the journal. And to our readers—your engagement and support give meaning and momentum to our mission. Together, we can build a a high-impact journal that not only reflects the vibrancy and quality of medical and dental specialist research in Africa but also contributes meaningfully to global scientific discourse.

Questions for the Deputy Editor, Clint Hendrikse:

1. What role has the editorial team played in achieving this milestone, and how has their dedication contributed to the journal’s success?
This milestone is the result of collective effort and shared purpose. Every member of the editorial team, together with our reviewers, funders, and AOSIS publishing partners, have contributed to building the journal’s credibility and consistency from the ground up. It has taken persistence, attention to quality, and a shared belief in creating a platform that represents and advances specialist scholarship from our region. The team’s dedication to promoting relevant, impactful, and inclusive science, grounded in integrity and equity, has been key to the journal’s success.

2. How will being indexed in PubMed Central enhance the visibility and accessibility of the research published in the journal?
Being indexed in PubMed Central is more than an achievement in visibility, it represents an important step toward amplifying African and LMIC scholarship within the global research landscape. For JCMSA, it ensures that work produced in and about our region stands alongside leading international research, accessible to readers and researchers across disciplines and continents. This elevates the voices of our contributors, fosters greater collaboration and knowledge exchange, and strengthens our collective impact. As a diamond open-access journal, it also reinforces our commitment to making contextually relevant, high-quality evidence freely available to those who need it most.

3. What opportunities does this recognition open up for future contributors and researchers looking to publish in the journal?
Being indexed in PubMed Central gives emerging and established researchers confidence that their work will reach a global audience and be considered alongside international scholarship. For contributors, it strengthens the visibility, credibility, and long-term discoverability of their research, key considerations for academic collaboration. It also positions JCMSA as a trusted, equitable platform for researchers in Africa and other LMICs to share contextually relevant evidence that can shape clinical practice and policy. In that sense, achieving inclusion in PubMed Central expands the opportunities for meaningful participation in global scientific conversations.

4. What are some of the key areas of focus for the journal moving forward, now that it has achieved this significant milestone?
Now that we’ve reached PubMed Central indexing, our focus shifts from visibility to consolidation and growth. We want to deepen engagement with African and global researchers by expanding our Author Assist and Young Specialist Review programmes, strengthening mentorship and peer-review capacity across disciplines. We’ll continue to prioritise high-quality, contextually relevant research that reflects the realities of clinical practice in our region, while also pursuing inclusion in additional international indexing databases to further enhance reach and credibility.

5. How do you plan to maintain and build upon the journal’s reputation for quality and scholarly rigor in the years to come?
We’ll continue to uphold the journal’s commitment to editorial integrity, independence, and equity in research. Rigorous peer review, transparent editorial processes, and active mentorship for both authors and reviewers remain central to our approach. We also aim to further support our growing community of reviewers and contributors, fostering collaboration and continuous learning within the journal ecosystem. By promoting relevant, impactful, and inclusive science that reflects the diversity of our region, we hope to strengthen JCMSA’s position as a trusted and equitable voice in global scholarship.

The Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (JCMSA) inclusion in PubMed Central is a testament to the journal’s dedication to quality, equity, and impactful scholarship. This milestone enhances the journal’s global scientific visibility, ensuring that high-quality African medical and dental research reaches clinicians, policymakers, and scholars worldwide.

We invite researchers to submit to JCMSA and contribute to its mission of advancing rigorous, contextually relevant science. Whether you’re an established academic or an emerging scholar, your work can help shape the future of clinical and specialist research. Additionally, we encourage experts to join our community of reviewers, where your expertise will uphold the journal’s commitment to quality and equity.

Visit JCMSA’s website to learn more about submission guidelines and opportunities to get involved. Together, let’s continue to elevate African medical and dental research and contribute meaningfully to global scientific discourse.