The main challenge for science publishing

Marilia Sá Carvalho Luciana Dias de Lima Cláudia Medina Coeli About the authors

The Editors of CSP were invited to participate in the panel discussion entitled Who is Served by Science Publishing in Collective Health/Public Health? at the 12th Brazilian Congress of Collective Health (Abrascão) in July 2018 (Supplementary Material; http://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/csp/public_site/arquivo/material-suplementar-abrascao_4283.pdf). The challenge posed by Kenneth Camargo Jr., coordinator of the round-table, was “to critically discuss the objective of publishing in our field, especially under the perennial pressure to ‘publish or perish’ (...), emphasizing in this sense that we have a profound impact on society that extends far beyond mere citation measures”.

We are thus reclaiming our history seeking to demonstrate the relevance of science publishing beyond the impact ratings. The principle, often reaffirmed by all the Editors-in-Chief of CSP since its first edition, was defined very accurately by Ênio Candotti 11. Candotti E. "Fica MCTI" e o Dr. Ulisses. Cad Saúde Pública 2016; 32:eED010716. (p. 2) in 2016: “to pursue science in order to ‘relieve human fatigue’ (…) to promote social justice (…) To stand alongside social movements...”. And we have practiced this principle in different spaces in CSP: Debates, Perspectives, and Thematic Sections.

There have been four key debates since 2014, the most recent published in July 2018, addressing the theme of one of the key panel discussions at the Abrascão, Thirty Years of History in the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS): A Necessary But Insufficient Transition22. Bahia L. Trinta anos de Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS): uma transição necessária, mas insuficiente. Cad Saúde Pública 2018; 34:e00067218.. We are also proud to have published a debate on graduate studies in Brazil 33. Camargo Jr. KR. Produção científica: avaliação da qualidade ou ficção contábil? Cad Saúde Pública 2013; 29:1707-11. that contributed to the assessment of programs in 2014, an assessment that concluded with a statement on the exhaustion of the “quantitativist” model, which links directly to the panel discussion’s theme.

The articles in the Perspectives and Thematic Section have also varied greatly, and here we list just a few recent examples: the bill of law on pesticides 44. Porto MFS. O trágico Pacote do Veneno: lições para a sociedade e a Saúde Coletiva. Cad Saúde Pública 2018; 34:e00110118., legalization of marijuana 55. Esher AKA. A regulação da maconha no Senado Federal: uma pauta da Saúde Pública no Brasil. Cad Saúde Pública 2014; 30:1-3., conflict of interests in nutrition 66. Gomes FS. Conflitos de interesse em alimentação e nutrição. Cad Saúde Pública 2015; 31:2039-46., the refugee issue 77. Goulart BG, Levey S, Rech RS. Multiculturality skills, health care and communication disorders. Cad Saúde Pública 2018; 34:e00217217.,88. Castiglione DP. Políticas de fronteiras e saúde de populações refugiadas. Cad Saúde Pública 2018; 34:e00006018.,99. Coral APP. Statelessness, exodus, and health: forced internal displacement and health services. Cad Saúde Pública 2018; 34:e00027518., and the return of appetite suppressants 1010. Paumgartten FJR. The return of amphetamine-like anorectics: a backward step in the practice of evidence-based medicine in Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública 2017; 33:e00124817., among many others. In the field of politics and health policy, we have debated outsourcing and its impacts on health 1111. Muntaner C. Global precarious employment and health inequalities: working conditions, social class, or precariat? Cad Saúde Pública 2016; 32:e00162215.,1212. Druck G. Unrestrained outsourcing in Brazil: more precarization and health risks for workers. Cad Saúde Pública 2016; 32:e00146315., public security 1313. Souza ER, Minayo MCS. Segurança pública num país violento. Cad Saúde Pública 2017; 33:e00036217., privatization of basic sanitation 1414. Sousa ACA, Barrocas PRG. Privatizar ou não privatizar: eis a questão. A única questão? A reedição da agenda liberal para o saneamento básico no Brasil. Cad Saúde Pública 2017; 33:e00048917., and privatization of the Brazilian health system 1515. Scheffer M. O capital estrangeiro e a privatização do sistema de saúde brasileiro. Cad Saúde Pública 2015; 31:663-6.. We have also addressed themes in the international scenario, from the American market-driven health care model 1616. Birn A-E, Hellander I. Market-driven health care mess: the United States. Cad Saúde Pública 2016; 32:e00014816., to the intentional destruction of the National Health Service in the United Kingdom 1717. Giovanella L. "Austeridade" no Serviço Nacional de Saúde inglês: fragmentação e mercantilização - exemplos para não seguir. Cad Saúde Pública 2016; 32:e00092716.. We show the evolution in themes from 2014 to July 2018 in figures presented in the Supplementary Material (http://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/csp/public_site/arquivo/material-suplementar-abrascao_4283.pdf), using an approximate classification merely to give an overview of our intention to contribute to society, “far beyond mere citation measures”.

We must also reflect on the internationalization of science, certainly very desirable. But this raises the question again: “internationalization is for what purpose? (...) for whom? What direction should it take?1818. Carvalho MS, Travassos C, Coeli CM. A internacionalização da ciência. Cad Saúde Pública 2014; 30:1585. (p. 1586). If we think of an impact factor the answer is obvious: to internationalize is to be read and cited by authors from developed countries, especially in the English language, who publish in high-impact journals, a network that creates and shapes itself through citations received and citations offered. However, if we think of stronger research networks (and thus stronger publishing networks), focused on dealing with our common problems, including that of scientific and technological subordination, we will want to have our eyes on the Ibero-American countries, Africa, and other developing regions. Our choice in this sense will not necessarily increase our bibliometric indices, but it will contribute to the development of a sovereign and integrated science, with solidarity.

All forms of communication at CSP are carefully thought out. Our theme in the cover photos for 2018 is “embracing diversity”. We have many projects and much work to do. Progress in science dissemination is probably one of the most relevant projects at this moment. As we proclaimed again at the Abrascão: democracy is health!

  • 1
    Candotti E. "Fica MCTI" e o Dr. Ulisses. Cad Saúde Pública 2016; 32:eED010716.
  • 2
    Bahia L. Trinta anos de Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS): uma transição necessária, mas insuficiente. Cad Saúde Pública 2018; 34:e00067218.
  • 3
    Camargo Jr. KR. Produção científica: avaliação da qualidade ou ficção contábil? Cad Saúde Pública 2013; 29:1707-11.
  • 4
    Porto MFS. O trágico Pacote do Veneno: lições para a sociedade e a Saúde Coletiva. Cad Saúde Pública 2018; 34:e00110118.
  • 5
    Esher AKA. A regulação da maconha no Senado Federal: uma pauta da Saúde Pública no Brasil. Cad Saúde Pública 2014; 30:1-3.
  • 6
    Gomes FS. Conflitos de interesse em alimentação e nutrição. Cad Saúde Pública 2015; 31:2039-46.
  • 7
    Goulart BG, Levey S, Rech RS. Multiculturality skills, health care and communication disorders. Cad Saúde Pública 2018; 34:e00217217.
  • 8
    Castiglione DP. Políticas de fronteiras e saúde de populações refugiadas. Cad Saúde Pública 2018; 34:e00006018.
  • 9
    Coral APP. Statelessness, exodus, and health: forced internal displacement and health services. Cad Saúde Pública 2018; 34:e00027518.
  • 10
    Paumgartten FJR. The return of amphetamine-like anorectics: a backward step in the practice of evidence-based medicine in Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública 2017; 33:e00124817.
  • 11
    Muntaner C. Global precarious employment and health inequalities: working conditions, social class, or precariat? Cad Saúde Pública 2016; 32:e00162215.
  • 12
    Druck G. Unrestrained outsourcing in Brazil: more precarization and health risks for workers. Cad Saúde Pública 2016; 32:e00146315.
  • 13
    Souza ER, Minayo MCS. Segurança pública num país violento. Cad Saúde Pública 2017; 33:e00036217.
  • 14
    Sousa ACA, Barrocas PRG. Privatizar ou não privatizar: eis a questão. A única questão? A reedição da agenda liberal para o saneamento básico no Brasil. Cad Saúde Pública 2017; 33:e00048917.
  • 15
    Scheffer M. O capital estrangeiro e a privatização do sistema de saúde brasileiro. Cad Saúde Pública 2015; 31:663-6.
  • 16
    Birn A-E, Hellander I. Market-driven health care mess: the United States. Cad Saúde Pública 2016; 32:e00014816.
  • 17
    Giovanella L. "Austeridade" no Serviço Nacional de Saúde inglês: fragmentação e mercantilização - exemplos para não seguir. Cad Saúde Pública 2016; 32:e00092716.
  • 18
    Carvalho MS, Travassos C, Coeli CM. A internacionalização da ciência. Cad Saúde Pública 2014; 30:1585.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    06 Sept 2018
Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: cadernos@ensp.fiocruz.br