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Author Guidelines

Authors are invited to make a submission to this journal. All submissions will be assessed by an editor to determine whether they meet the aims and scope of this journal. Those considered to be a good fit will be sent for peer review before determining whether they will be accepted or rejected.

Before making a submission, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to publish any material included with the submission, such as photos, documents and datasets. All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author. Where appropriate, research should be approved by an appropriate ethics committee in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.

An editor may desk reject a submission if it does not meet minimum standards of quality. Before submitting, please ensure that the study design and research argument are structured and articulated properly. The title should be concise and the abstract should be able to stand on its own. This will increase the likelihood of reviewers agreeing to review the paper. When you're satisfied that your submission meets this standard, please follow the checklist below to prepare your submission.

Submission Preparation Checklist

All submissions must meet the following requirements.

  • This submission meets the requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.
  • This submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration.
  • All references have been checked for accuracy and completeness.
  • All tables and figures have been numbered and labeled.
  • Permission has been obtained to publish all photos, datasets and other material provided with this submission.

Original Research Articles

Purpose: Report new empirical findings that advance knowledge in health systems, health policy, or public health governance.

Scope: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies, including health policy analyses, health economic evaluations, implementation research, and comparative system studies.

Structure: Abstract (structured) Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, and Declarations.

Length: 6,000-8,000 words (excluding abstract, tables, and references)
Abstract: Up to 250 words
References: Up to 60

Peer review: Double-blind, minimum of two external reviewers.

Systematic Reviews and Narrative Reviews

Purpose: Synthesize existing evidence to inform policy, practice, and future research.

  • Systematic reviews (including meta-analyses and scoping reviews) must follow a transparent, reproducible method and report according to PRISMA (or PRISMA-ScR for scoping reviews). Registration of the protocol (e.g., PROSPERO) is encouraged.
  • Narrative reviews should offer a critical, balanced, and well-structured overview of a defined topic, with a clear explanation of how literature was identified.

Length: 5,000-7,000 words (systematic); 4,000-6,000 words (narrative)
Abstract: Up to 250 words
References: Up to 100

Peer review: Double-blind, minimum of two external reviewers.

Policy Briefs

Purpose: Present concise, actionable, evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, managers, and practitioners.

Content: A clearly defined policy problem, a summary of the supporting evidence, an assessment of policy options, and specific recommendations, with attention to feasibility and implementation.

Structure: Key messages, Background, Evidence summary, Policy options, Recommendations, Implementation considerations.

Length: 1,500-2,500 words
Abstract: Key messages box (up to 150 words)
References: Up to 30

Peer review: Double-blind, with review attention to policy relevance and clarity.

 

Case Studies

Purpose: Provide an in-depth examination of a specific health system, program, policy, institution, or response, offering lessons that may be transferable to other settings.

Content: Case context, methods of data collection and analysis, a detailed account of the case, key findings, and lessons learned. Authors should be explicit about the limits of generalizability.

Length: 3,000-5,000 words
Abstract: Up to 250 words
References: Up to 50

Peer review: Double-blind, minimum of two external reviewers.

 

Perspective and Commentary Pieces

Purpose: Offer informed opinion, critical reflection, or debate on emerging issues, controversies, or ideas in health systems and policy.

Content: A focused, well-argued position supported by relevant evidence. Pieces must be clearly distinguished from research reports and should not present new empirical data.

Length: 1,500-3,000 words
Abstract: Unstructured, up to 150 words
References: Up to 40

Peer review: Double-blind, or editorial review at the Editor-in-Chief's discretion for invited pieces.

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