Vistas for the future.

As we usher in a new dawn with optimism, let us embrace ourselves with newer challenges and emerging vistas for the Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology (JOACP).

Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology has endured many changes which have strengthened the Research Society of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology (RSACP) and enriched the anesthesia fraternity at large. It has been our proud privilege to inherit the legacy of stalwarts donning the mantle of Editor-In-Chief. My eminent predecessors Dr. HL Kaul, Dr. Tej K. Kaul and Dr. Mukul Kapoor have pioneered, nurtured, and sustained excellent editorial standards, thereby elevating JOACP to international prominence and credibility. Their significant contributions have always been a source of inspiration to me. Indeed it is a daunting task ahead to preserve and carry forward their accomplishments for the journal.

The challenges in future are to continue JOACP's march towards scientific integrity, higher indexing and greater visibility to become one of the forerunners in publishing quality research and clinical work from all fields of Anesthesiology, Pain, Critical Care and Perioperative Medicine. As has been aptly elaborated in the accompanying editorial written by the pillar of RSACP Prof. Rebecca Jacob, “with great power comes great responsibility” – We need to sustain a “continuum of ethical and good practice” at JOACP.[1] Hence our endeavor to publish ethical high-quality research, which empowers mankind, remains our core responsibility.

These high standards demand a higher level of commitment, diligence, teamwork, ethical conscientiousness and perseverance from all of us at the helm of JOACP and RSACP. Constructive cooperation is the vital key to attaining success in the face of all challenges. I have been privileged to be ably supported by the RSACP governing body, our three associate editors, international advisors, editorial board members, esteemed reviewers, our publishers, and contributors. Editors are the fortitude and pillars of an editorial team. The current team of associate editors are being strengthened with a new energetic team of experienced Associate and Section Editors. These sections are the same headings under which we currently publish all articles, viz., Editorials, Reviews, Commentaries, Original Articles, Forum and Correspondence - with a minor change of publishing case reports as Correspondence; case series and nonrandomized studies as part of Forum section. This change has been introduced to enable focused high-quality external peer-reviews and shorter turnaround times thereby empowering our authors with academic support, and early decisions.

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”[2]

— Albert Einstein

These are the ethos that JOACP stands for all its contributors, researchers, and readers. The teacher here is the team of editors, reviewers and advisors who would help kindle and support ethical research, and guide young researchers into chiseling their scientific writing skills. We have introduced a structured submission process, which lays great emphasis on mandatory ethical/scientific approvals from institutional review boards, patient consent for publication and plagiarism prevention by making plagiarism software available for reviewers and editors. JOACP also gains by this excellence as it enables us to publish articles of credible educative value. We shall continue to uphold the optimism of my worthy predecessor Dr. Mukul Kapoor of empowering our readers, contributors and anesthesia fraternity at large with credible, ethical research from all over the globe.[3] The future direction of the JOACP needs to focus towards the latest advances in research, education, and quality healthcare in our subcontinent.

We encourage our contributors to regularly visit the journal website for updating themselves on the revised instructions to authors and editorial policies. We are committed to both transparency in every aspect of editorial processes and prevention of misconduct. I shall look forward to your constructive criticism, which will enable us to strategically move forward, propelling JOACP as an international trustworthy journal.

“It is through cooperation, rather than conflict, that your greatest successes will be derived.”[4]

— Ralph Charles