Overview
Submission Instructions
Recent Publications
Frequently Asked Questions
Research Topics
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HP
Health Policy publishes interdisciplinary research and reviews with clear policy implications for an international audience, focusing on health systems, health policies, and health reforms in high-income countries, primarily outside the US. It aims to strengthen communication between researchers, legislators, decision-makers, and professionals concerned with developing and implementing better health policies.
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Impact Factor
3.4
Quartile
Q1
Open Access Type
Hybrid
ISSN
0168-8510
eISSN
1872-6054
Invitation Only
No
Cost Range
Open Access APC: USD 4,040 (excluding taxes); subscription publication: no publication fee charged to authors.
Submission Instructions
Health Policy accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.
Full-Length Articles (Flas)
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 250 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract headings must be Background, Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusions.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 4,000 words excluding references, figures, tables, and the abstract but including boxes. Manuscript must be ordered as Article title, Abstract, Keywords, Research in context box, Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions, using the headings Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Manuscript must include 1 to 7 keywords, a research in context box of no more than 200 words covering what is already known, what the study adds, and policy implications, highlights of 3 to 5 bullet points with the first stating the problem and including main findings and policy implications, and an AI-use disclosure section before the references if generative AI was used.
References
References must be cited in the text using numbers in square brackets and listed in the order of first appearance, with consistency between in-text citations and the reference list.
Figures & Tables
A maximum of 4 figures and tables combined is permitted. Figures and tables must be included in the anonymized manuscript, and figures must also be supplied as separate files. Tables must be editable text with captions and consecutive numbering, and all figures and tables must be cited in the manuscript text.
Review Articles
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 250 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Background, Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusions.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 6,000 words excluding the abstract, references, figures, and tables, with boxes included in the word count. Manuscript must be ordered as Article title, Abstract, Keywords, Research in context box, Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions, using the headings Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Manuscript must include highlights consisting of 3 to 5 bullet points with the first stating the problem, at least one on the main findings, and at least one on policy implications, plus a research in context box of no more than 200 words covering what is already known, what the study adds, and the policy implications, and any generative AI use must be disclosed in a section before the references.
References
References must be cited in the text using numbers in square brackets and listed in numerical order of appearance, with each in-text citation matched in the reference list and each reference including standard bibliographic details.
Figures & Tables
Review Articles may include a maximum of 6 figures and tables combined. Figures and tables must be included in the anonymized manuscript and supplied as separate files, while additional figures and tables may be provided as supplementary material. Tables must be editable text with captions and figures and tables must be cited in the manuscript and numbered consecutively.
Cross-Country Comparative Analyses
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. The cover letter must include confirmation that publication has been approved by all authors and by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 250 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Background, Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusions.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 6,000 words, excluding references, figures, tables, and the abstract but including boxes. Manuscript must be organized as Article title, Abstract, Keywords, Research in context box, Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions, using the headings Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. The manuscript must include 1 to 7 keywords, a research in context box of no more than 200 words with the headings What is already known about the topic?, What does this study add to the literature?, and What are the policy implications?, highlights of 3 to 5 bullet points with each bullet no more than 85 characters including spaces and covering the problem, main findings, and policy implications, and an AI-use disclosure section before the references if generative AI was used in manuscript preparation.
References
References must be cited using numbered square-bracket citations in order of appearance. References must be numbered in the order they appear and include author names, source title information, year, volume, and article numbers or pagination where applicable, with journal names abbreviated according to the List of Title Word Abbreviations.
Figures & Tables
A maximum of 6 figures and tables combined is allowed. The anonymized manuscript must contain figures and tables, while figures and other graphical items must also be supplied as separate files. Tables must be editable text with captions and cited consecutively in the manuscript, and all figures and tables must remain legible when reduced in size for printing.
Health Reform Monitor (Hrm) Papers
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. The cover letter content is not explicitly specified.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 250 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Background, Reform content, Expected Results, and Conclusions.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 3,000 words, excluding references, figures, tables, and the abstract, with boxes included in the word count. Manuscript should be ordered as Article title, Abstract, Keywords, Research in context box, Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions, using the headings Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. The manuscript submission must include 1 to 7 keywords, a research in context box covering what is already known, what the study adds, and policy implications, highlights of 3 to 5 bullet points with the first stating the problem and including main findings and policy implications, and an AI-use disclosure section before the references if generative AI was used.
References
References must use a numbered style with citations shown in square brackets in order of appearance. References must be listed consistently in citation order and include author names, source title information, year, and volume or pagination where applicable, with journal names abbreviated according to the List of Title Word Abbreviations.
Figures & Tables
A maximum of 2 figures and tables combined is allowed. The anonymized manuscript must contain figures and tables, while figures and other graphical media must also be supplied as separate files. Tables must be editable text with captions and consecutive numbering, and all figures and tables must be cited in the manuscript text.
Policy Comments
Cover Letter
A cover letter is required. The cover letter must include a statement that all authors have approved the submission.
Abstract
An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 250 words. Abstract structure type is not specified beyond requiring a brief summary of the main argument.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 1,500 words, excluding references, figures, tables, and the abstract but including boxes. Manuscript should focus on a single point, build a clear argument, and be organized with the sections Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. The submission must include highlights, 1 to 7 keywords, a research in context box of no more than 200 words with the headings What is already known about the topic?, What does this study add to the literature?, and What are the policy implications?, and an AI use declaration before the references if generative AI was used in manuscript preparation.
References
References must be cited using numbered square-bracket citations. References must be numbered in the order of appearance and include complete bibliographic details with journal names abbreviated according to the List of Title Word Abbreviations.
Figures & Tables
Policy Comments may include a maximum of 1 figure and table combined. The anonymized manuscript must contain figures and tables, while figure files must also be uploaded separately. Tables must be editable text with captions and figures must have captions and remain legible when reduced in size for printing.
Letters To The Editor
Cover Letter
A cover letter must be included with the submission.
Abstract
Abstract must not exceed 250 words.
Manuscript
Letters to the Editor must not exceed 300 words. Title should refer to the original manuscript, and the letter must be related to a recently published article in Health Policy. Highlights are required, and any use of generative AI in manuscript preparation must be disclosed in a section placed before the references.
References
References must be cited in the text using numbers in square brackets and numbered in the order of appearance.
Figures & Tables
Letters to the Editor must not include tables or figures. Figures and tables are generally included in the anonymized manuscript, but this article type must not include them.
Recent Publications
Healthcare reforms in the United Arab Emirates from 2017 to 2024: A systematic review on progress and strategic priorities
Yufei Gu, Erik Koornneef, Khalid A. Alnaqbi
10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105636
View Publication
Violence against healthcare workers as a signal of health system strain: Implications for health policy and governance
Laurent Boyer, Martin Postzich, Pierre-Michel Llorca, Vanessa Pauly, Shiqing Zhang, Julie Blanc, Bastien Boussat, Antoine Duclos
10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105638
View Publication
General practitioners’ incentives and practice style: A descriptive registry study of earnings variation in Norway
Kristian B. Kraft, Mari Grøsland, Eivor H. Hoff, Arnstein Mykletun, Kristian Østby
10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105639
View Publication
Health system sustainability and resilience: Navigating perpetual tensions?
George Wharton, Alistair McGuire
10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105632
View Publication
Inter- and intranational variation of vaccine hesitancy: a survey in Denmark and Saudi Arabia
Kamal Dhafer Hussein Alansari, Caroline Buhl, Abrar K. Thabit, Aisha F. Badr, Ramune Jacobsen
10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105633
View Publication
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to publish?
8 days from submission to first decision; 102 days from submission to decision after review; 236 days from submission to acceptance; 2 days from acceptance to first online publication.
Reformat to Health Policy using Livewrite PremiumIs a cover letter required?
A cover letter is required as part of the submission files. Articles submitted for a special issue should mention the special issue in the cover letter.
Reformat to Health Policy using Livewrite PremiumWhat are the publication costs?
Open Access APC: USD 4,040 (excluding taxes). Subscription publication: no publication fee charged to authors.
Reformat to Health Policy using Livewrite PremiumResearch Topics
Healthcare Policy and Management
Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
Global Health Care Issues
Primary Care and Health Outcomes
Healthcare Systems and Reforms
Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy
Human auditory perception and evaluation
Diverse Scientific and Economic Studies
Global Maternal and Child Health
Healthcare cost, quality, practices
Educational Robotics and Engineering
Health disparities and outcomes
Global Health Workforce Issues
Employment and Welfare Studies
Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology
Patient Satisfaction in Healthcare
Healthcare Quality and Management
Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
Chronic Disease Management Strategies
Healthcare innovation and challenges
Pharmaceutical industry and healthcare
Interprofessional Education and Collaboration
Health Policy Implementation Science
Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
Clinical practice guidelines implementation