RGUHS Journal of AYUSH Sciences - The Way Forward

Introduction

The AYUSH systems (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) are integral to India’s healthcare heritage and are gaining global recognition. As interest in integrative and holistic healthcare grows, enhancing the scientific credibility and international visibility of AYUSH is imperative. A key driver in this transformation is the development of high-quality scientific literature that meets global standards of research and publication.

Despite increased research output in AYUSH, challenges persist regarding the quality, impact, and acceptance of AYUSH journals. This editorial critically evaluates the current publishing landscape and proposes a forward looking strategy to address the core challenges faced by authors and publishers alike.

Current Landscape of AYUSH Scientific Publishing

Over the past two decades, AYUSH research has expanded, supported by the Ministry of AYUSH, CCRAS, CCRUM, CCRYN, and academic institutions. Several AYUSH-focused journals are being published in India; however, only a few are indexed in major international databases such as Scopus, PubMed, or Web of Science. The low impact factor and limited citation metrics of these journals highlight systemic gaps in quality, visibility, and credibility.

Challenges for Authors

1. Lack of Research Training

Many AYUSH practitioners lack formal training in scientific research methodology, study design, statistical analysis, and academic writing. This often results in:

• Poorly defined research questions
• Weak study designs (e.g., lack of control groups, randomization, or blinding)
• Inaccurate or incomplete reporting of results

2. Non-Compliance with Reporting Guidelines  Authors frequently overlook globally accepted guidelines such as:

• Inaccurate or incomplete reporting of result
• CONSORT for clinical trials
• STROBE for observational studies
• PRISMA for systematic reviews

Non-compliance leads to poor peer review outcomes and frequent manuscript rejection.

3. Language and Presentation Issues

Poor English proficiency, lack of structured writing, and weak scientific arguments often hinder even good studies from being accepted.

4. Limited Access to Indexed Journals

The scarcity of high-quality indexed AYUSH journals and reluctance among mainstream medical journals to accept AYUSH papers due to concerns over evidence quality create additional barriers.

5. Plagiarism and Predatory Journals

Under pressure to publish, some authors fall prey to predatory journals that offer rapid publication without peer review. Instances of plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and duplicate submissions also undermine the  credibility of AYUSH research.

Challenges for Publishers

1. Shortage of Qualified Peer Reviewers Many AYUSH journals lack a pool of experienced reviewers trained to assess manuscripts against global benchmarks.

2. Indexing and Impact Factor Deficit

Journals struggle to meet indexing requirements due to:

• Low citation metrics
• Irregular publication frequency
• Poor editorial processes and lack of transparency

This affects journal visibility and authors’ confidence.

3. Technical and Financial Constraints  Many AYUSH journals operate on limited budgets and may lack:

• Professional editorial staff
• Plagiarism detection tools
• Online submission and manuscript tracking systems
• DOI assignment and open-access publishing platforms

4. Ethical Oversight

The absence of standardized policies on authorship, conflicts of interest, data sharing, and informed consent undermines the ethical rigor.

Solutions and the Way Forward For Authors

1. Build Research Capacity

• Integrate training in research methodology, biostatistics, and scientific writing into postgraduate AYUSH curricula.
• Encourage faculty development programs, workshops, and online courses through collaborations with institutions like ICMR, AIIMS, or PHFI.

2. Adherence to Reporting Guidelines

• Promote the use of EQUATOR Network resources (e.g., CONSORT, STROBE, CARE) for different types of studies.
• Make adherence to these guidelines mandatory for thesis submissions.

3. Language and Writing Support

• Establish language editing support services in universities and journals. 
• Encourage collaborations with medical writers and research mentors during manuscript preparation.

4. Foster Ethical Publishing Practices

• Conduct training on plagiarism, authorship criteria (ICMJE), and research integrity.
• Use plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate) before submission.

5. Target Quality Journals

• Train researchers to identify credible, indexed journals.
• Promote submissions to interdisciplinary journals open to traditional medicine.

For Publishers

1. Strengthen Editorial Boards

• Include interdisciplinary experts (biostatisticians, pharmacologists, clinicians) on editorial boards.
• Provide training in editorial ethics and peer review standards.

2. Implement Transparent Peer Review System

• Implement structured peer review systems with clear criteria for study design, data analysis, ethics, and presentation.
• Use double-blind or open peer review to improve credibility.

3. Upgrade Digital Infrastructure

• Adopt online journal management systems (e.g., Open Journal Systems – OJS).
• Ensure DOI assignment, XML tagging, and archival in digital repositories.

4. Improve Indexing and Open Access

• Develop regular publication schedules and robust editorial policies. 
• Work towards inclusion in DOAJ, PubMed Central, Scopus, and Web of Science.
• Consider ethical open-access models (e.g., Creative Commons licenses) to enhance visibility.

5. Uphold Ethical and Scientific Standards

• Mandate ethics committee approval for all research studies.
• Implement policies on conflicts of interest, trial registration (e.g., CTRI), and data availability.

Role of Government and Institutions

1. Ministry of AYUSH

• Support national training centers and capacity building programs
• Provide funding and indexing incentives for AYUSH journals.

2. Integration with National Research Systems

• Foster collaboration between AYUSH researchers and institutions like ICMR, CSIR, and DBT.
• Encourage interdisciplinary research and co authored publications.

3. Academic Recognition and Reward

• Recognize high-impact publications in academic promotions and research grants.
• Develop institutional repositories and publication dashboards for performance monitoring.

Conclusion

The AYUSH journal ecosystem is at a critical inflection point. The path forward lies in building research capacity, enforcing rigorous editorial standards, adopting modern publishing technology, and embracing ethical transparency. With a collective commitment from researchers, editors, institutions, and government stakeholders, AYUSH journals can evolve into globally respected platforms that contribute meaningfully to evidence-based, integrative healthcare.

This transformation is not just desirable; it is necessary for AYUSH to claim its rightful space in global scientific discourse and healthcare innovation in the 21st century.