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Journal Indexing and Abstracting Services

International Medical Journal of Health (IMJH)

ISSN: 2395-6291 | Enhancing Discoverability | Global Visibility

"Journal indexing is the process of including a journal in a bibliographic database that organizes and provides access to scholarly literature. Inclusion in major databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed Central is a mark of journal quality and is essential for authors seeking maximum visibility and citation impact."

ICMJE Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals, 2025

IMJH is committed to achieving and maintaining indexing in the world's leading biomedical databases. This page provides comprehensive information about our current indexing status, application progress, and the importance of journal indexing for authors and readers.

Current Indexing
6
Active databases
Under Review
3
Major databases
Geographic Reach
150+
Countries
Articles Indexed
850+
And growing

1. Why Journal Indexing Matters

Discoverability & Access
  • Global Visibility: Indexed journals are discoverable by researchers, clinicians, and students worldwide through the search interfaces of major databases.
  • Permanent Accessibility: Indexing ensures that articles remain findable and accessible in perpetuity, even if the journal's website changes.
  • Library Subscriptions: Academic and medical libraries prioritize indexed journals for their collections and discovery systems.
  • Cross-Platform Discovery: Indexed articles appear in Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, reaching users across multiple platforms.
Citation Impact & Credibility
  • Higher Citation Rates: Articles in indexed journals receive significantly more citations than those in non-indexed journals. Studies show indexing in Scopus or Web of Science correlates with 2-3x higher citation counts.
  • Academic Credibility: Indexing serves as an independent validation of journal quality, peer review rigor, and editorial standards.
  • Author Recruitment: Top researchers preferentially submit their best work to indexed journals, creating a virtuous cycle of quality.
  • Career Advancement: National Medical Commission (NMC) and other regulatory bodies recognize publications in indexed journals for academic promotions and credentialing.
Institutional Recognition
  • Funding Eligibility: Many funding agencies require that research outputs be published in indexed journals.
  • Institutional Rankings: University rankings (QS, THE, Shanghai) consider publications in indexed journals as key performance indicators.
  • Research Assessment: National research evaluation frameworks (such as the UK REF, Australian ERA) weight indexed publications more heavily.
Quality Assurance
  • Peer Review Standards: Indexing databases require evidence of rigorous, transparent peer review processes.
  • Publication Ethics: Major databases require journals to follow COPE, ICMJE, and WAME ethical standards.
  • Editorial Board Credentials: Indexing evaluators assess the qualifications and diversity of editorial boards.
  • Consistent Publishing: Databases verify timely, consistent publication without interruption.
The Indexing Advantage: By the Numbers
2.5x

More citations for articles in indexed vs. non-indexed journals

85%

Of researchers use Scopus/Web of Science for literature searches

94%

Academic libraries subscribe to indexed journals

70%

Of promotion committees weight indexing status heavily

Sources: STM Report 2024, Publishing Research Consortium 2023, Nature Index 2024

2. Current Indexing Status

Currently Indexed In

IMJH is actively indexed in the following databases and abstracting services.

Google Scholar

Indexed since 2018 | Coverage: Full text

All IMJH articles are discoverable through Google Scholar, providing broad visibility and citation tracking.

Verify indexing →
Crossref

Member since 2017 | DOIs assigned

Every IMJH article receives a permanent DOI and is registered with Crossref, enabling persistent linking and citation tracking.

Verify indexing →
Index Copernicus International

ICV 2024: 98.72 | Indexed since 2019

IMJH is evaluated and indexed in Index Copernicus, with an ICV score placing us in the top 15% of evaluated journals.

Verify indexing →
BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine)

Indexed since 2020

One of the world's most comprehensive academic search engines, BASE indexes IMJH content for global discoverability.

Verify indexing →
CiteFactor

Indexed since 2020

Academic Scientific Journals indexing service with broad international coverage.

Verify indexing →
GARUDA (Garba Rujukan Digital)

Indexed since 2021 | Ministry of Education, Indonesia

IMJH is indexed in GARUDA, the national indexing portal of Indonesia, expanding our reach in Southeast Asia.

Verify indexing →
Journal Selection Criteria in WoS, PubMed, and Scopus

Inclusion in major databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed Central is based on rigorous evaluation of journal quality, including peer review processes, editorial board composition, publication ethics, citation impact, and consistency of publishing. IMJH is actively working toward meeting and exceeding these criteria for future inclusion .

3. Major Biomedical Databases: Overview and Status

Database Status Coverage Notes
PubMed Central (PMC) In Progress Full-text biomedical literature Application submitted Q1 2025; under review
MEDLINE/PubMed In Progress Citations and abstracts Requires PMC indexing first
Scopus In Progress Citations, abstracts, metrics Application submitted Q4 2024; under evaluation
Web of Science Core Collection In Progress Citations, abstracts, impact metrics ESCI application submitted; under review
Embase (Excerpta Medica) In Progress Biomedical literature, pharmacology Preparation phase
DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) Completed Open access journal metadata Application preparation; expected Q4 2025
BIOSIS Previews Future Goal Life sciences, biomedical research Planned for 2026
CINAHL Future Goal Nursing, allied health Planned for 2026-2027
PubMed Central

NIH free full-text archive of biomedical and life sciences literature. PMC indexing is the gateway to MEDLINE/PubMed.

Application Under Review
Scopus

Elsevier's abstract and citation database. Includes 27,950+ active peer-reviewed journals from 5,000+ publishers.

Under Evaluation
Web of Science

Clarivate's citation database. ESCI (Emerging Sources Citation Index) is the entry point for new journals.

Under Review
About Journal Selection Criteria in WoS, PubMed and Scopus

The evaluation process for inclusion in these major databases is rigorous and multidimensional. Key criteria examined by database curators include:

  • Peer review processes: Evidence of rigorous, transparent, and documented peer review procedures.
  • Editorial board composition: Diverse, international board with established expertise and publication records.
  • Publication ethics: Adherence to COPE, ICMJE, and WAME standards; clear policies on conflicts, plagiarism, and misconduct.
  • Citation impact: Analysis of citation patterns, self-citation rates, and contribution to the field.
  • Consistency and timeliness: Regular publication without interruption; adherence to stated schedule.
  • International scope: Geographic diversity of authors, editors, and readers.

IMJH is actively addressing all these criteria through our indexing development roadmap .

4. Understanding Journal Selection Criteria

How Journals Are Evaluated for Indexing

Inclusion in major databases is not automatic. Journals must demonstrate consistent quality across multiple dimensions over time.

Comparative Indexing Criteria: WoS, Scopus, PubMed Central
Evaluation Criteria Web of Science Scopus PubMed Central
Peer review policy ✓ Explicit, documented ✓ Transparent process ✓ Rigorous, documented
Editorial board ✓ International, diverse ✓ Qualified, representative ✓ Expertise in scope
Publication ethics ✓ COPE membership preferred ✓ COPE, ICMJE alignment ✓ Strong ethics policies
Citation performance ✓ Relative citation impact ✓ CiteScore, percentile ⨁ Not primary criterion
International authorship ✓ Geographic diversity ✓ International contribution ⨁ Not primary criterion
Publishing timeline ✓ Consistent, timely ✓ Regular publication ✓ Consistent schedule
Article quality ✓ Scientific rigor ✓ Methodological soundness ✓ Scientific validity
XML/DOI compliance ✓ Required ✓ Required ✓ JATS XML required
Reference Analysis Based on Journal Selection Criteria

A 2017 study analyzing Iranian Medical English Journals not indexed in WoS, Scopus, or PubMed found that approximately 88.5% of non-indexed journals had their own reference style, but many lacked consistency in reference formatting, completeness, and accuracy — factors that indexing evaluators examine .

IMJH maintains rigorous reference standards:

  • Consistent Vancouver style formatting across all articles
  • Complete reference data (authors, title, journal, year, volume, pages, DOI)
  • DOIs included for all cited articles when available
  • Regular quality audits of reference accuracy

Reference analysis is one of many objective criteria used by database curators to assess journal quality and consistency .

5. What Indexing Means for IMJH Authors

Increased Visibility

Your work becomes discoverable to researchers, clinicians, and students who rely on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science as their primary literature search tools.

Higher Citations

Articles in indexed journals receive 2-3 times more citations than those in non-indexed journals. Indexing directly impacts your citation metrics and h-index.

Career Advancement

NMC, UGC, and international promotion committees recognize publications in indexed journals. Indexing status is often a threshold criterion for academic promotion.

Immediate Benefits (Current)
  • Articles discoverable via Google Scholar and Crossref
  • DOIs assigned, indexed by major DOI resolvers
  • Content accessible through GARUDA (Indonesia), BASE (Germany), Index Copernicus (Poland)
  • Full-text available open access with no paywall
  • Articles included in major search engines
Future Benefits (Pending Indexing)
  • Articles appear in PubMed/MEDLINE searches
  • Inclusion in Scopus citation tracking and author profiles
  • Web of Science citation reports and h-index calculation
  • Embase indexing for pharmacology and drug research
  • DOAJ seal for high-quality open access
Message to IMJH Authors

IMJH is actively pursuing indexing in the world's most prestigious biomedical databases. This is a multi-year process that requires demonstrable consistency, quality, and impact over time. Each article you publish with us contributes to this goal—your citations, your peer review service, and your decision to trust IMJH with your research all help build the case for inclusion in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.

We are grateful for your partnership in this journey.

6. Indexing Application Progress and Roadmap

IMJH Indexing Development Roadmap 2024-2027

Our strategic plan for achieving indexing in major biomedical databases.

2024 Achievements
Completed: Scopus application submitted (Q4 2024)
Completed: Web of Science ESCI application submitted (Q4 2024)
Completed: Journal publishing schedule optimized to monthly frequency
Completed: Enhanced editorial board with 12 new international members
2025 Milestones
In Progress: PubMed Central application (submitted Q1 2025; under review)
In Progress: Scopus technical evaluation and citation analysis
In Progress: Web of Science peer review evaluation
In Progress: DOAJ application preparation (target: Q4 2025)
In Progress: JATS XML implementation for PMC compliance
2026-2027 Goals
Planned: MEDLINE/PubMed application (post-PMC acceptance)
Planned: Embase application
Planned: BIOSIS Previews application
Planned: CINAHL application (nursing and allied health)
Quarterly Progress Updates

IMJH publishes quarterly updates on indexing application progress. Subscribe to our indexing announcement list to receive notifications when new indexing statuses are achieved.

Subscribe to indexing alerts →

7. How to Verify Journal Indexing

Verify Current Indexing

Google Scholar:

  1. Visit scholar.google.com
  2. Search for "International Medical Journal of Health"
  3. Click on journal profile to see indexed volumes/issues

Crossref:

  1. Visit crossref.org
  2. Enter any IMJH DOI (e.g., 10.xxxx/imjh.2025.00123)
  3. Verify DOI resolution and metadata

Index Copernicus:

  1. Visit journals.indexcopernicus.com
  2. Search "International Medical Journal of Health"
  3. View ICV score and evaluation report
Verify Pending Indexing Status

Scopus:

  1. Visit scopus.com/sources
  2. Search journal title
  3. Check "Active" or "Under Evaluation" status

Web of Science:

  1. Visit mjl.clarivate.com
  2. Search journal title
  3. Check Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) status

PubMed Central:

  1. Visit ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/journals
  2. Search journal title
  3. Check participating journal status
IMJH provides verified indexing status reports upon request for author promotion and grant applications.
Warning: Predatory or Fake Indexing

Some services claim to be "indexing databases" but are not legitimate. IMJH only claims indexing in verified, reputable databases recognized by the global academic community. We do not pay for inclusion in fake indexing services. If you encounter a claim that IMJH is indexed in a database you do not recognize, please verify with our editorial office.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

MEDLINE indexing is a rigorous, multi-year process. Journals typically need to demonstrate consistent quality for 2-3 years before application, and the review process itself takes 6-18 months. Additionally, MEDLINE generally requires prior indexing in PubMed Central (PMC). IMJH submitted its PMC application in Q1 2025 and is progressing through the evaluation process. We are committed to achieving MEDLINE indexing and will announce progress publicly.

PubMed Central (PMC) is a free full-text archive of biomedical and life sciences literature. It contains complete articles in XML format. PubMed is a citation database that includes citations and abstracts from PMC and other sources. Many journals are indexed in PMC before being selected for MEDLINE, which is the subset of PubMed journals that meet additional quality criteria. IMJH is pursuing PMC indexing as the primary gateway to MEDLINE/PubMed.

Scopus and Web of Science evaluation typically takes 6-12 months from application submission. Both databases receive hundreds of applications annually and conduct thorough assessments of peer review quality, editorial board composition, citation performance, and publication ethics. IMJH submitted applications in Q4 2024 and is currently under active evaluation. We will announce decisions immediately upon notification.

No. IMJH's article processing charges are independent of indexing status and remain affordable ($100 standard APC, with waivers available). We do not increase APCs based on indexing achievements. Our commitment to open access and affordability is permanent.

Yes! Authors can support indexing efforts by: (1) citing IMJH articles in your own publications (appropriate citations demonstrate impact), (2) serving as peer reviewers (consistent, high-quality review is an evaluation criterion), (3) recommending IMJH to your institutional library, and (4) spreading awareness of IMJH among your professional network. Every citation and every high-quality review strengthens our indexing applications.

The Index Copernicus Value (ICV) is a composite metric evaluated by Index Copernicus International. It assesses multiple parameters including scientific quality, editorial quality, technical quality, and international reach. IMJH's 2024 ICV score is 98.72, placing us in the top 15% of evaluated journals. While ICV is not as prestigious as Scopus or Web of Science indexing, it demonstrates our commitment to quality metrics and provides useful benchmarking data.

9. Citation Metrics and Performance Reporting

CrossRef Citation Count
2,450+

Total citations to IMJH articles

Updated monthly
Article Downloads
185,000+

Full-text downloads (all time)

Updated monthly
h-index (Google Scholar)
28

Since 2015

Updated quarterly
Annual Citation Report

IMJH publishes an annual citation report summarizing journal performance metrics, including total citations, top-cited articles, geographic distribution of authors and readers, and progress toward indexing goals.

10. Contact Indexing and Abstracting Department

Indexing Department
General Inquiries:

info@imjhealth.org

Primary contact for indexing questions

Secondary Contact:

info.imjh@gmail.com

Alternative contact for redundancy

Verification Requests:

info@imjhealth.org

Subject: "Indexing Verification Request"

Response Commitment:

All indexing inquiries acknowledged within 48 hours

Complex verification requests: 3-5 business days

Online Resources
IMJH Indexing Dashboard:

https://imjhealth.org/indexing-dashboard

Real-time indexing status and metrics

Our Commitment to Indexing Excellence

IMJH is dedicated to achieving and maintaining indexing in the world's leading biomedical databases. We understand that indexing status is a critical factor for authors choosing where to submit their research. We are transparent about our current status, honest about the challenges and timeline, and unwavering in our commitment to meeting the rigorous standards required for PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science indexing. We thank our authors, reviewers, and editorial board members for their partnership in this journey.

Stay Updated on Indexing Progress
Receive notifications when IMJH achieves new indexing status:
  • ✓ PubMed Central acceptance announcement
  • ✓ Scopus inclusion notification
  • ✓ Web of Science ESCI listing
  • ✓ DOAJ Seal and membership