LAO MEDICALJOURNAL
LMJ-Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sing Menorath
Chief Editor,Tokyo, August 3;2013

Background• No medical journal in Lao language available in Laos
until recently• Lao doctors/health professionals have been conducting
medical/health research but most results are notpublished• Only few study results published in international
medical journals• LMJ establish on December 30th 2009 with supports
from University of Tokyo, Japan and Wellcome TrustUniversity of Oxford

Objectives• Promote, develop & disseminate health sciences
research findings in Laos
• Provide researchers, doctors, nurses, para-medicalprofessionals, lecturers, students, health policy planners& other group of people with health sciences
information so that they can use as references for theirrelevant activities and work.

Who produces LMJ ?
• Produced, managed and administered by ResearchCenter, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies, University ofHealth Sciences• LMJ office: University of Health Sciences, PhiawatCampus, Sisatanak District, Vientiane Capital,
PoBox 7444, Vientiane, Lao PDR,
Tel.856 21 240854; Fax: 856 21 214055)• Publisher: University of Health Sciences

LMJ Organization• Steering Committee
1. Vice-Minister of Health
2. President of the Council of Lao Medical Sciences
3. President of the University of Health Sciences• Editorial board- Editor-in-Chief: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sing Menorath- Deputy Editor: Dean, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies

LMJ Organization (cont.)• International Advisory Board- Dr. Paul Newton- Prof. Dr. Kiyoshi Kitamura- Assist. Prof. Dr. Hirotaka Onishi- Assist. Prof. Dr. Hiroshi Nishigori• 17 Associate Editors• 3 Editing Editors• 3 Editorial Assistants• 3 people in production and publishing Unit

About LMJ• First scientific journal in Lao language on medicine andpublic health in Laos
• Target audiences: researchers, doctors, nurses, students,
para-medical and health professionals, and lecturers in

the health sectors.
• Published biennially with abstracts in English (1st issue

printed on September 30th 2010 and 2nd issue April 30th2011

About LMJ (cont.)• The Third Edition published on April 2013
• The Fourth Edition are printing now• Got ISSN from ISSN International Center (ISSN 22193847)• Indexed in WPRIM• Now only in prints but planned to produce in electronic

files in the future to be onlineAbout LMJ (cont.)• Papers accepted for publication:
1. Original research articles: ~ 3,000 words with abstract <300 words and ~ 30 references
2. Review articles: ~ 3,000 words with abstract < 300words and ~ 50 references
3. Reports: ~ 1,500 words with abstract < 100 words and ~12 references
4. Letters to Editors / Responses to letters

Manuscript Evaluation• Editor & Deputy Editor read all unsolicited manuscript
submissions. (> 1/3 submissions rejected without
further review).
• Manuscripts are assigned to an Associate Editor andsent to outside experts for review.
• The Associate Editor, aided by reviewers’ comments,makes a recommendation to the Editor regarding themerits of the manuscript.
• Editor makes a final decision to accept, reject, orrequest revision of the manuscript.

First Issue of the LMJStrengths• Excellent supports from the Ministry of Health, steeringcommittees, and University of Health Sciences• Financial supports from University of Tokyo-Japan,
Welcome Trust-Oxford University-UK• Very enthusiastic, active, and motivated team

Challenges• Sustainability• Small working team but not professional• Financial constraints• Research paper in good standard

Thank you very much for your kindattention