The MMJ-MMSG : a call to referees and authors

Abstract

The Malta Medical Journals, now comprising the Malta Medical Journal (MMJ) and the Malta Medical School Gazette (MMSG), remain the only strictly peer-reviewed journals that focus on medicine and medical issues in Malta. They offer local clinicians and colleagues the option to publish their research with reasonable odds in favour of acceptance, when compared with large international journals where the number of submitted manuscripts and refusal to publish are considerably greater. Admittedly, a publication in the MMJ-MMSG will reach a much smaller audience since, despite all the commendable efforts of the outgoing editor, Prof Victor Grech, the MMJ remains outside of PubMed and PubMed Central. Essentially, a substantial captive local population and, more importantly, a steady influx of high quality publications is a pre-requisite for acceptance onto PubMed and PubMed Central. Little can be done about the former and, although the MMJ-MMSG do receive and publish quality work, this could be improved.