Open Access Policy

1. Introduction

The Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal (PAFMJ) is committed to the principles of open access to scientific knowledge. This Open Access Policy outlines the guidelines and procedures to ensure that research published in the journal is freely accessible to the global community for non-commercial purposes, fostering the dissemination of knowledge and promoting advancements in the medical field.

2. Open Access Definitions

2.1 Gold Open Access:

PAFMJ is a gold open access journal, meaning that all articles are immediately and freely available to the public upon publication.

2.2 Creative Commons License:

PAFMJ Published articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License (CC BY-NC), allowing others to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work and derivative works based upon it, but only if they give the author or licensor the credits in the manner specified and for non-commercial purposes.

3. Author Responsibility

3.1 Licensing Agreement:

Authors are required to sign a licensing agreement granting PAFMJ the right to publish, reproduce, and distribute their work under the chosen Creative Commons License.

3.2 Compliance with Policies:

Authors are expected to comply with the open access and licensing policies outlined by PAFMJ.

4. Accessibility and Archiving

4.1 Immediate Access:

Published articles are made available on the PAFMJ website immediately upon publication for non-commercial purposes, ensuring rapid access to the scientific community and the public.

4.2 Digital Preservation:

PAFMJ is committed to digital preservation, ensuring the long-term accessibility and integrity of the published content.

5. Financial Model

5.1 Article Processing Charges (APCs):

To support the open access model, PAFMJ may charge article processing charges (APCs) to cover the costs associated with the editorial process, production, and online hosting.

5.2 Waivers and Discounts:

PAFMJ may provide waivers or discounts on APCs for authors from low-income countries or in cases of financial hardship.

6. Promotion of Open Access

6.1 Advocacy:

PAFMJ actively advocates for open access and supports initiatives that promote the free exchange of scientific knowledge for non-commercial purposes.

6.2 Collaboration:

PAFMJ collaborates with other open access initiatives and organizations to advance the open access movement in the medical research community.

7. Review and Updates

This policy will be periodically reviewed to ensure its effectiveness. Updates will be made as necessary to align with evolving standards and best practices in open access publishing.