The Journal of Community Medicine and Health Sciences (JCMHS) believes that financial limitations should not prevent authors from disseminating their research. To promote equitable participation in scholarly publishing, JCMHS provides Article Processing Charge (APC) waivers and discounts to authors based on transparent eligibility criteria aligned with international open-access standards.

All waiver requests are considered fairly and independently of editorial decisions. Acceptance or rejection of a manuscript is based solely on its scientific merit and peer-review outcome.

1. Purpose and Commitment

This policy outlines the principles, criteria, and process for granting APC waivers or discounts. JCMHS supports researchers from low-income regions and early-career investigators to ensure inclusive global participation in open access publishing.

2. Ethical and Transparency Standards

The policy complies with the DOAJ Principles of Transparency, OASPA Code of Conduct, and COPE Guidelines. All waiver decisions are confidential, impartial, and not disclosed to editors or reviewers during peer review.

3. Eligibility for Waiver or Discount

Waivers and discounts are available for authors who meet one or more of the following conditions:

Affiliated with institutions in low- or lower-middle-income countries as defined by the World Bank Income Classification.
Early-career researchers or postgraduate students lacking grant funding.
Independent researchers without institutional support.
Active editorial board members, reviewers, or contributors to the journal.

4. Waiver Categories

Category	Eligibility	Waiver Level
Full Waiver	Authors from low-income countries or humanitarian institutions	Up to 100%
Partial Waiver	Authors from lower-middle-income countries or students	Up to 50%
Editorial / Reviewer Benefit	Active contributors to peer review or editorial activities	25–50% or voucher
Institutional Partnership	Organizations under formal publishing agreement	As per agreement

5. Application Process

Authors must request a waiver at the time of manuscript submission via the online form or cover letter.
The request must include:
- Reason for waiver or discount
- Proof of institutional affiliation or income-level status
- Any supporting grant or funding information
The finance office reviews applications within 5–7 business days and notifies the corresponding author before acceptance.

6. Supporting Documentation

Acceptable documentation may include:

Institutional identification or letter confirming non-funded status
Proof of country income classification
Enrollment certificate (for students)
Previous reviewer acknowledgment (for editorial contributors)

7. Decision and Notification

Waiver decisions are communicated through official email prior to invoicing. The decision is final for that submission and does not affect future eligibility. The waiver outcome remains confidential.

8. Fairness and Independence

The editorial and peer-review teams remain unaware of waiver requests during the review process. The decision to accept or reject a paper is based solely on scientific quality and relevance, not on the author’s ability to pay.

9. Waiver Renewal or Future Requests

Authors who receive a waiver are still eligible for future waivers, depending on submission volume, contribution history, and available funding resources of the journal. Repeat requests are evaluated individually.

10. Institutional and Consortia Agreements

Institutions or funding agencies may enter agreements with the publisher to cover APCs for their members. Authors under such agreements should indicate the affiliation in their cover letter so the APC is automatically waived.

11. Voucher Program for Reviewers and Editors

To acknowledge the valuable contributions of peer reviewers and editorial board members, JCMHS offers vouchers applicable toward future submissions. Each voucher reduces APCs by 25–50% and can be redeemed within two years.

12. Student and Early-Career Researcher Support

Recognizing that students and early-career investigators often face funding challenges, the journal provides partial waivers or discounts when manuscripts demonstrate strong methodological and scientific quality.

13. Funding from External Sources

Authors are encouraged to seek open-access publication funding from grants, universities, or research organizations. The journal assists authors in obtaining institutional reimbursement by providing detailed invoices and acknowledgment letters.

14. How to Request a Waiver

Check eligibility using the latest World Bank income classification.
Prepare a short justification letter (100–200 words).
Submit the waiver request at the time of manuscript upload, using the “Comments for the Editor” box or by emailing [email protected].
Await written confirmation before making any payment.

15. Conditions and Limitations

Waivers must be approved before APC invoicing.
Waivers cannot be combined with institutional sponsorships or previously awarded vouchers.
Decisions are non-transferable between manuscripts or authors.
Waivers are granted on availability of the annual support fund and are subject to budget limits.

16. Refund Relationship

If a manuscript with a granted waiver is withdrawn or retracted before publication, the waiver expires. The Refund Policy applies only to paid APCs, not to waived amounts.

17. Annual Review and Budget Allocation

The Waiver Policy and fund allocation are reviewed annually by the Publisher to maintain fairness and financial sustainability. Adjustments are made based on submission volume and global economic factors.

18. Transparency and Reporting

JCMHS publishes aggregated data (number and percentage of waivers granted annually) as part of its transparency commitment. Individual author identities are never disclosed.

19. Compliance with Global Standards

Complies with DOAJ, COPE, and OASPA open-access standards
Respects GDPR and data-protection regulations
Supports UNESCO and WHO open-science accessibility goals
Ensures equity and inclusivity in global scholarly publishing

20. Contact and Support

Email: [email protected]
Subject: “Waiver Request – [Manuscript ID]”
Processing time: 5–7 business days
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (IST)

21. Sample Waiver Request Template

Dear Finance Team,
I am submitting my manuscript entitled “[Article Title]” for consideration in JCMHS. As an author affiliated with a low-income country institution, I kindly request an APC waiver under the journal’s Waiver Policy. I have no external funding for publication support.
Thank you for considering my request.
Sincerely,
[Full Name] [Institution / Country] [Email]

22. Policy Review and Updates

This Waiver Policy is reviewed annually by the Publisher and the Editorial Board to ensure that it remains equitable, transparent, and consistent with evolving best practices in open-access publishing.

“Financial barriers must never limit the spread of knowledge — waivers ensure that every worthy contribution reaches the global community.”