In short: "Indexed in PubMed" can mean different things. PubMed is a free database of citations, and MEDLINE, made up of journals selected by the US National Library of Medicine (NLM), is its largest component. Other citations reach PubMed through PubMed Central (PMC) or Bookshelf, so an article appearing in PubMed does not by itself mean its journal is in MEDLINE. To check, open the journal's NLM Catalog record and read "Current Indexing Status".
By On Time Publication Editorial Team · Last updated 9 October 2026
PubMed is a free resource with more than 40 million citations and abstracts of biomedical literature. It searches several NLM resources (About PubMed):
| Component | What it is | How content gets there |
|---|---|---|
| MEDLINE | NLM's premier bibliographic database; the largest component of PubMed. Records are indexed with MeSH (Medical Subject Headings). | NLM selects whole journals after a quality review. |
| PubMed Central (PMC) | A free full-text archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature; the second largest component. | Journals selected for archiving, plus individual articles deposited to comply with funder policies. |
| Bookshelf | A full-text archive of books, reports and other documents. | Citations for books and some chapters. |
According to NLM, MEDLINE currently includes citations from more than 5,200 journals, and searching PubMed is free and needs no registration (MEDLINE overview). NLM's list of all journals cited in PubMed has about 30,000 records, covering MEDLINE titles and other titles whose content is deposited in PMC; some of these non-MEDLINE journals may contribute far fewer citations (PubMed journal list).
Some hospitals, universities and ministries specify MEDLINE, while others accept any journal in PubMed. A journal website that says "indexed in PubMed" may mean MEDLINE, or that some of its articles are in PMC. PMC's Journal List shows whether a journal deposits "All articles" or only "NIH funded articles" (PMC). PMC also holds author manuscripts and preprints (About PMC). NLM's MEDLINE FAQ states that the presence of an individual article in PubMed does not necessarily mean the journal is included in MEDLINE or PMC.
NLM decides whether a journal's scientific and editorial character and quality merit inclusion. At least two consultants, usually a scientist and a medical librarian, review each journal, generally looking at articles from the last two years, and NLM considers their recommendations in reaching its decision (journal selection). Publishers apply for a whole journal: NLM's application process sets pre-application requirements (such as a registered ISSN and at least 40 peer-reviewed articles), then a scientific quality review and technical checks (MEDLINE application). PMC uses a similar review by consultants (PMC journal selection). Authors cannot apply or pay for MEDLINE indexing of a single article.
If you are shortlisting medical journals published in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan or elsewhere, check each one individually in the NLM Catalog. Status can differ between journals from the same country or publisher, and the Catalog shows when indexing started or stopped. If your hospital or university also needs Scopus or Web of Science coverage, our Saudi Arabia and GCC page and Jordan page explain how we support researchers there, in Gulf and Jordan business hours.
Our medical manuscript editing covers language, clarity and journal formatting for clinical and biomedical papers. Through journal submission support, our team of qualified researchers and subject-specialist editors with publishing experience can help you choose PubMed-indexed journals that suit your article type, and check Scopus and Web of Science coverage if your hospital or university requires it. You choose the journal. Acceptance is always decided by the journal's editors and peer reviewers. An NDA is available on request.
Independence: On Time Publication is not affiliated with the US National Library of Medicine (NLM), NIH, PubMed, Elsevier/Scopus, Clarivate/Web of Science or any journal or publisher named on this page. We have no office in the GCC or Jordan. We link to public guidance so you can check it yourself.
Usually, a journal whose articles appear in PubMed. That can mean the journal is selected for MEDLINE, or that its articles are archived in PubMed Central. Check which applies in the NLM Catalog.
No. PubMed is a free database that searches MEDLINE, PubMed Central and Bookshelf. MEDLINE is its largest component, made up of journals selected by NLM.
No. PMC is a full-text archive. It includes journals selected for archiving and individual articles deposited under funder policies. A journal can be in PMC without being in MEDLINE.
Search its ISSN or title in the NLM Catalog, open the record and read Current Indexing Status. The record also shows the period during which the journal was indexed.
Not necessarily. NLM says the presence of an individual article in PubMed does not necessarily mean that the journal is included in MEDLINE or PMC.
Search the NLM Catalog for currentlyindexed, or apply the Currently indexed in MEDLINE filter. NLM's Broad Subject Terms page links to subject-specific searches.
Yes. We can help you choose PubMed-indexed journals that suit your article type, and check Scopus and Web of Science coverage if your hospital or university requires it. You choose the journal, and the journal decides on acceptance.
We link to official sources so you can check the rules yourself. Always follow your target journal's and institution's current instructions.
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