About JNMA

Journal of Nepal Medical Association (JNMA) is an internationally peer-reviewed, MedLine/PubMed-indexed, monthly general medical journal published by the Nepal Medical Association. JNMA is the first and oldest medical journal from Nepal, established in 1963 AD. The journal is indexed in PubMed, PMC, DOAJ, OASPA, Google Scholar, Index Copernicus, EBSCO, EMBASE, and other repositories.

The editorial decisions of the Journal of Nepal Medical Association are made independently by the editorial team based solely on the scientific merit, originality, and relevance of submitted manuscripts. The publisher, advertisers, or any external bodies do not influence the evaluation, review, or publication decisions of the journal.

The journal primarily serves clinicians, researchers, and policymakers, aiming to support evidence-based medical practice and health system development.

Aims and Scope

The Journal of the Nepal Medical Association (JNMA) publishes peer-reviewed research across all medical disciplines. Its scope includes clinical medicine, such as therapeutics, diagnostics, and case studies; surgical specialties; public health topics encompassing epidemiology, health systems, and policy analysis; and basic medical sciences. Additionally, JNMA addresses themes including global health, medical education, and ethics.

JNMA generally considers manuscripts with contemporary data (preferably from the last five years), unless older datasets provide significant scientific, historical, or contextual value and are justified accordingly.

JNMA does not accept manuscripts related to non-evidence-based alternative medicine, studies lacking ethical approval, or animal studies.

JNMA adheres to internationally recognized publication standards, including those of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), Council of Science Editors (CSE), and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Editorial Philosophy

The Journal of Nepal Medical Association may be philosophically understood through the lens of epistemic justice, democratization of knowledge, and ethical humanism. Beyond merely publishing scientifically rigorous work, the journal serves as a platform that recognizes that valuable knowledge often emerges from resource-constrained, marginalized, or underrepresented contexts. It acknowledges that authentic and ethically generated scientific insight should not remain confined by geography, institutional privilege, or economic limitation. In doing so, the journal acts as a bridge between local realities and universal scientific dialogue, enabling contextually grounded experiences and evidence to contribute to the broader architecture of global knowledge. Its philosophical orientation is therefore rooted not only in empiricism and scientific rigor, but also in ethical accountability, epistemic inclusivity, and social responsibility, affirming that meaningful contributions to science can emerge from even the most constrained settings when guided by integrity, critical inquiry, and commitment to human wellbeing.

Publisher

JNMA is published by the Nepal Medical Association, Kathmandu, Nepal, since 1963. At present, JNMA issues are released monthly.

Funding

The operational and publication expenses of JNMA are primarily supported by the Nepal Medical Association. Additional support is provided by the Madhur–Ramesh JNMA Trust and the Anjani–Mukti–Kedar Trust. The print version of the journal also receives support from the Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal.

Research Integrity Commitment

JNMA is committed to maintaining research integrity and publication ethics. The journal actively promotes transparency, accountability, and ethical responsibility among authors, reviewers, and editors.

History of JNMA

The Journal of Nepal Medical Association was first established in 1963 AD. The first chief editor was Dr. Mrigendra Raj Pandey. It is the first and oldest medical journal in Nepal. Many distinguished academicians have shaped and led the JNMA. They have been honored as Chief Editor Emeritus.

Chief Editor Emeritus

• Dr Mrigendra Raj Pandey (1963-1964)
• Dr Hemang Dixit (1965-1967)
• Dr BP Sharma (1967-1968)
• Dr Moin Shah (1969-1970)
• Dr YB Shrestha (1971-1972)
• Dr Santosh Man Shrestha (1973)
• Dr PR Satyal (1974-1976)
• Dr Shyam Bahadur Pandey (1977-1978)
• Dr Sanjib Dhungel (1979)
• Dr Shyam Bahadur Pandey (1980)
• Dr Tej S Malla (1981-1983)
• Dr Narayan Bahadur Thapa (1984-1985)
• Dr Sanjib Dhungel (1986)
• Dr Ramesh Kant Adhikari (1987-1988)
• Dr Mahendra Nepal (1989)
• Dr Rakesh Prasad (1990)
• Dr Mohan P Joshi (1991)
• Dr Neelam Adhikari (1992)
• Dr Nirakar Man Shrestha (1993)
• Dr Bhagavat P Nepal (1994)
• Dr Babu Ram Marasini (1995-1997)
• Dr Ugra Narayan Pathak (1997-1998)
• Dr Sudha Sharma (1999-2001)
• Dr Ramesh P Acharya (2002-2004)
• Dr Achala Vaidya (2005-2006)
• Dr Kusum Thapa (2007-2011)
• Dr Rabindra Pradhan (2011-2012)
• Dr Angel Magar (2013-2024)