Epidemiology and Health Services: journal of the Brazilian National Health System (RESS) came into being in 1992, as the SUS Epidemiological Report (IESUS), and, in 2003, took on the format of a scientific journal.¹ In 2011, based on the solid structure it had formed over time, a new phase of driving forward the development of the journal began, with the expansion of the Editorial Committee and the editorial team.²

The plan to strengthen the RESS was revised, with the aim of achieving publishing standards capable of meeting the indexing criteria of national and international bibliographical databases. The instructions for authors were revised, postal submission of manuscripts was abandoned and the editorial process became totally electronic. Efforts were made to ensure that 15 original articles were published in each edition, in a regular and punctual manner. As a result, in a short space of time, the RESS was indexed in the SciELO Brasil collection (2014)⁴ and the SciELO Saúde Pública collection (2015), as well as in the following bibliographic databases: Medline (2016),⁵ Scopus (2017), Embase (2017), Emerging Sources Citation Index (2017)⁶ and AmeliCA (2020).

Being indexed in the SciELO Brasil Collection was fundamental for driving forward the professionalization of RESS’ editorial process. The journal began using an electronic manuscript management system and began publishing all articles in Portuguese and English, with abstracts in these languages and also in Spanish.³ The period between 2011 and 2021 has been characterized by the expansion of RESS’ relevance in the area of Public Health, and its consolidation as a nationally and internationally recognized quality scientific journal.³

In this virtuous decade, the journal has seen a considerable increase in the number of articles submitted and published (Figure 1), as well as an increase in the number of accesses and citations, resulting in its improved Qualis CAPES classification.⁸ Between edition 4/2011 and edition 3/2021, 39 regular editions have been published, including 641 original or review articles. Those articles, as well as the editorials, have covered a diversity of themes, accompanying the evolution of epidemiology and health surveillance over the period and highlighting relevant topics, such as the microcephaly epidemic caused by the Zika virus in Brazil (2015-2016)⁹ and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-to date).¹² Thematic series articles, guidelines for scientific writing, Portuguese versions of international documents containing recommendations for publishing and guidelines on scientific integrity, and scientific writing guides have also been published.³ Three special editions have also been published highlighting subjects relevant for health surveillance.¹⁸

a) Number of articles published as at edition 3 / 2021; number of articles submitted as at July 31, 2021.

Figura 1 – Number of articles submitted and published in Epidemiology and Health Services: journal of the Brazilian National Health System , 2011-2021a 

The period has also been marked by scientific dissemination activities, training of authors and reviewers, and the establishment and strengthening of partnerships with other journals in the area, such as the Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, the Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical and the Revista Pan-Amazônica de Saúde . Of note was the creation, in 2012, of the RESS Evidencia Award, to give recognition to the best article published by the RESS every year.³

Being part of the evolution of the RESS, during this virtuous decade – from 2011 to 2013, as Scientific Editor, and from 2014 to 2021, as General Editor –, has been a great satisfaction and privilege. The results achieved, the fruit of intense work and collective efforts, should be celebrated. I would like to thank the entire journal team, the members of the Editorial Committee, and the managers of the Health Surveillance Secretariat (SVS/MS), manuscript authors and the entire RESS community, who have collaborated in order for the journal to develop tremendously. I make special mention of Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, who, with his extraordinary leadership ability and enthusiasm, has always supported the development of the RESS, right from the outset. And also Dr. Elisete Duarte, who worked in an extremely competent manner, with dedication and integrity as RESS’s Executive Editor, throughout this entire decade.

The transition in RESS’ management occurred at a time when Brazil faced elevated numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths, with disastrous social and economic consequences, while public service managers with anti-scientific stances were put in charge of addressing the epidemic. In this adverse situation, it is important to highlight the fundamental role of the RESS Editorial Committee, tireless in the exercise of its attributions and in its zeal for the journal's autonomy before its maintaining institution. Committee members took an emphatic standpoint to ensure that the Health Surveillance Secretariat indication for the post of General Editor was made in accordance with the journal’s Charter.

It is with great pride, and putting to good use the rich experience I have gained, that I have become a member of this honorable Committee, which will continue working to promote the RESS’ constant enhancement and so that the journal will continue to fulfill its noble mission of disseminating epidemiological knowledge applicable to actions aimed at surveillance, prevention and control of diseases and health conditions of concern for Public Health, with the aim of enhancing the services offered by the Brazilian National Health System (SUS).

Long live RESS!