PAME to organize its National Conference at UHS Campus Lahore on October 21st 2024

Speakers from EMAME to be invited to make presentations through Video Link
PAME also decides to start recognition of standard, peer reviewed Medical Journals to ensure standards and quality

Collaborative activity between PAME, UHS and EMAME

KARACHI: Pakistan Association of Medical Editors (PAME) has decided to organize its next conference at University of Health Sciences Campus at Lahore on Monday October 21st 2024. This will be a collaborative activity between PAME, University of Health Sciences as well as Eastern Mediterranean Association of Medical Editors (EMAME). UHS administration has been kind enough to allow us to hold this meeting at their premises and a letter of confirmation has been received from Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore Vice Chancellor of UHS in this regard.

A preliminary meeting was held on Wednesday July 3rd at the office of Journal of Pakistan Medical Association. It was attended by Dr. Fatema Jawad, Prof. Jamshed Akhtar, Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid, Prof. Anwar Siddiqui, and Prof.Nazeer Khan while Prof. Irfan and Prof. Akhtar Sherin attended online and participated in the discussions. Prof. Jamshed Akhtar had prepared a provisional scientific programme which was discussed in detail and was finalized with input from other members. During the meeting it was also decided that EMAME executive will be invited to join it to make it a joint collaborative effort. Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid Secretary EMAME will contact Prof. Farhad Handjani in this regard. It was also decided that speakers from EMAME and other guest speakers from overseas will be invited to attend and make presentations through Video link for which the UHS administration has promised to make available these facilities.

As per this provisional programme the topic which will be discussed during the conference include issues and challenges faced by Evaluation and Recognition Committees of regulatory bodies i.e. Higher Education Commission and Pakistan Medical & Dental Council. Scientometrics- does it truly reflect the quality of scholarly literature and academic journals, A Journey from Certificate in Medical Editing to Diploma in Medical Journalism: An update, Critical role of peer reviewers to improve quality of the journal. It is planned to invite representatives of HEC, PM&DC, WHO, CPSP in the inaugural session. An academician will be invited to deliver a Talk on Focusing quality research in Pakistan leading to production of quality research and quality publications, improving visibility of national journals.

Global issues faced faced by Medical Journal Editors like how to get higher Impact Factor: is it a necessity and obligation, Issues in attracting submissions from high income countries, Publishing Houses and Medical Journals will be discussed in a special session. In the afternoon sessions, Status of medical journals from Easter Mediterranean Region will also be discussed by one of the invited speakers. Another invited speaker is being asked to talk on Artificial Intelligence & other Technologies- Friend or Foe. Yet another speaker will talk on New Knowledge Dissemination behind the Paywall versus Open Access Journals. Publication Ethics and Preprint Policies will also be discussed in the afternoon session.
It is planned that the conference will start with an early morning PAME session at 8.30 AM wherein editors of recently recognized medical journals will discuss challenges faced and the way forward. There will be four to five presentations of five minutes each which will be followed by general discussion.

A Pre conference contributory dinner meeting will be held at UHS campus on Sunday October 20th where issues related to PAME will also be discussed in detail. Any suggestions comments from the PAME members are most welcome. It is hoped that members of PAME and those who have completed Certificate in Medical Editing as well as Advance Certificate in Medical Editing will make it convenient to attend the conference and actively participate in its deliberations. Registration Fee for the conference was fixed at Rs. two thousand only to encourage greater participation.

Further discussion will continue and sending invitation letters to the prospective speakers from EMAME and overseas was entrusted to Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid. Dr. Fatema Jawad will get in touch with former President of WAME Prof. Peush Sahani from India for his participation. Prof. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Aslam will be requested to get in touch with HEC and PM&DC to ensure the participation of their representatives.

On a suggestion from Prof. Anwar Siddiqui it was also decided that Pakistan Association of Medical Editors which is the only registered body of medical editors in Pakistan should also start evaluation and recognition of medical journals published from Pakistan to ensure quality and standard. Since many members of such committees in HEC in particular are not fully familiar with scientific writing, research and publication processes, many a times the decision taken are not appropriate which promotes quackery in medical journalism and promotes sub-standard medical journals. Only those medical journals which will fulfill certain stringent criteria laid down by the PAME Committee which will be in line with the guidelines followed by PM&DC will be given membership of PAME. A committee of senior researchers, academicians and medical editors will be formed for this purpose under the auspicious of PAME which will start working soon.