The Revista Médica del IMSS publishes original articles in Spanish or English that represent a significant contribution to knowledge in the health sciences. Versions previously published, in press, or derived from already disseminated works are not accepted.

Upon receipt through the journal’s online portal, each manuscript is registered with a unique identification number and undergoes an initial editorial screening to verify compliance with the Instructions for Authors, inclusion of the required attachments (conflict of interest declaration, authorship acknowledgment, and copyright transfer form), as well as its thematic relevance, originality, and scientific contribution. Only manuscripts that pass this initial stage proceed to peer review. Download the Reviewers’ Manual here.

Before a manuscript is sent for double-blind peer review, it undergoes an initial editorial assessment based on an editors’ consensus, aimed at determining its suitability with respect to the journal’s scope, thematic coverage, and editorial standards. If the manuscript aligns with the journal’s profile, it proceeds to external review; otherwise, it may be declined at this preliminary stage.

Once deemed eligible for external evaluation, the manuscript is typically assigned to two subject-matter reviewers under a double-blind scheme that preserves the anonymity of both authors and reviewers. The assessment is conducted according to review guidelines and criteria available in the OJS platform, which are intended to appraise originality, methodological rigor, argumentative coherence, scientific relevance, bibliographic currency, and adherence to ethical and editorial requirements.

The process is confidential and may result in three possible decisions: acceptance, request for revisions, or rejection. In the event of discrepant recommendations, the editor may appoint a third reviewer to support the editorial decision. The editor is responsible for communicating the decision and the reviewers’ recommendations to the corresponding author.

If the article is accepted with revisions, the author has 20 business days to submit a revised version along with a response letter detailing the changes made. Failure to meet this deadline may result in rejection of the manuscript.

The average time from submission to publication ranges from 8 to 10 months, depending on the type of article and the efficiency of the review process.

Once accepted for publication, authors retain the moral and intellectual rights to their work. However, the published version becomes the property of the journal through the transfer of patrimonial rights signed by all authors. Any total or partial reproduction of the text in another medium requires prior written authorization from the editor.

The journal adheres to the principles of publication ethics and best editorial practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), ensuring transparency, scientific integrity, and fairness throughout all editorial processes.

In case of maintenance of the journal’s electronic platform, all evaluation and editorial procedures will continue via the official email: revista.medica@imss.gob.mx.

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