The Revista Médica del IMSS publishes unpublished articles in Spanish or English that represent a significant contribution to knowledge in the health sciences. Previously published versions, manuscripts in press, or works derived from previously disseminated texts 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, the inclusion of mandatory attachments, such as the conflict of interest statement, authorship acknowledgment, and copyright transfer form, as well as its thematic relevance, originality, and scientific contribution. Only manuscripts that pass this stage proceed to the peer review process. Download the Reviewers’ Manual here.

Once registered with the journal, it is not ethically acceptable to submit the manuscript to another publication, whether print or electronic. Likewise, changes in the order of authorship or the addition or removal of authors after initial submission are not permitted, except with documented justification and approval by the editorial leadership. If the author wishes to withdraw the manuscript, this must be formally notified in writing to the Co-Editor at: revista.medica@imss.gob.mx.

The ordinary editorial management of manuscripts is carried out by the Co-Editor, who coordinates the follow-up of the editorial process, communication with authors and reviewers, verification of compliance with formal requirements, and progress through the evaluation stages. This management is conducted in coordination with the Editor-in-Chief, the Executive Editor, and the designated Associate Editors, according to the type of manuscript, its thematic area, and the editorial needs of the journal.

The Associate Editors may participate in the initial editorial assessment, the identification of subject-matter reviewers, and the academic follow-up of manuscripts related to their area of expertise. In addition, when the journal publishes special issues, supplements, or thematic sections, Associate Editors may assume editorial management of such contents, always in accordance with the journal’s editorial policies, peer review criteria, and under the supervision of the editorial leadership.

Before a manuscript is sent for double-blind peer review, it undergoes a preliminary editorial assessment carried out by the Co-Editor, the Editor-in-Chief, the Executive Editor, or the designated Associate Editors, as applicable. This assessment is based on shared editorial criteria and aims to determine the manuscript’s suitability in relation to the journal’s scope, thematic line, originality, scientific contribution, and ethical and editorial standards. If the manuscript is compatible with the journal’s editorial profile, it is sent for external review; otherwise, it may be rejected at this preliminary stage.

Once accepted for external evaluation, the manuscript is generally assigned to two subject-matter reviewers under a double-blind scheme that preserves the anonymity of both authors and reviewers. The evaluation is conducted according to the review instructions and criteria available in the OJS platform, which are intended to assess 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 Co-Editor, the Editor-in-Chief, the Executive Editor, or the designated Associate Editor may request the evaluation of a third reviewer to support the editorial decision.

Editorial decisions are made jointly, based on the editorial assessment, reviewers’ reports, the scientific relevance of the manuscript, compliance with ethical criteria, and adherence to the journal’s policies. Formal communication of the decision and the reviewers’ recommendations is sent to the corresponding author by the Co-Editor or by the editor responsible for the corresponding editorial process.

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

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

If the article is accepted for publication, the author retains the moral and intellectual rights to its content. However, the publication is considered 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 editorial leadership.

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

---