Waiver Policy

The Annals of Clinical Hypertension (ACH) is committed to equitable open access publishing. To support authors facing financial constraints, ACH offers partial or full waivers of the Article Processing Charge (APC) following a transparent, case-by-case assessment that does not influence editorial or peer-review decisions.

Principle of Equity

Waivers ensure that inability to pay does not prevent authors from publishing high-quality research. Editorial decisions remain strictly independent of any waiver request or outcome.

Eligibility

  • Corresponding authors based in low or lower-middle income economies (as classified by the World Bank) are strongly eligible for consideration.

  • Early-career researchers, unfunded projects, and authors with documented funding shortfalls may also be considered.

  • Special circumstances (e.g., public health emergencies, urgent clinical communications) may be prioritized at the Editor-in-Chief’s discretion.

Types of Waivers

Waiver Type Typical Reduction Notes
Full Waiver Up to 100% Reserved for exceptional hardship, LMIC priority, or time-sensitive public health relevance.
Partial Waiver Up to 50% Most commonly granted; proportionate to documented need and funding availability.
Discount 10–30% For early-career authors or limited shortfalls, including special issue contributions.

How to Apply

  1. Timing: Submit a waiver request at the time of manuscript submission or immediately after receiving the manuscript ID.

  2. What to include: manuscript title & ID, corresponding author affiliation & country, funding statement, and a brief justification (≤200 words) outlining financial constraints.

  3. Where to send: Email your request to [email protected] with subject line: “Waiver Request – [Manuscript ID]”.

Assessment & Decision
  • Assessed independently of editorial/peer review to protect objectivity.
  • Based on country income tier, funding status, and the scale of need.
  • Outcome communicated by email; decisions are final for the submitted version.

Key Terms & Conditions

  • Waiver approval is valid for the accepted version of the specific manuscript ID only and is non-transferable.

  • APC invoices (post-acceptance) will reflect the approved waiver percentage.

  • If project funding becomes available before invoicing, authors should inform the office; waiver terms may be revisited accordingly.

  • Waivers cannot be combined with other institutional agreements unless explicitly stated.

Special Cases

  • Special Issues: Discounted APCs may already apply; additional waivers are at the Editor-in-Chief’s discretion.

  • Rapid Communications / Clinical Alerts: Time-critical content may be prioritized for consideration.

  • Multiple Submissions: Each manuscript requires a separate waiver request.

Compliance & Independence

Waiver decisions are made for financial accessibility and do not affect editorial judgment, peer-review rigor, or publication priority. Reviewers and handling editors are not informed of waiver requests or outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When should I apply? At submission or immediately after obtaining your manuscript ID.
Does a waiver affect the decision? No. Editorial and peer-review decisions are independent of financial considerations.
What proof is needed? A clear funding statement, affiliation/country, and a brief justification; supporting documents may be requested.
How long does it take? Most decisions are communicated within the manuscript’s initial screening window.
Important
  • Waiver requests made after invoicing may be ineligible or delayed.
  • Providing inaccurate information can lead to revocation of the waiver and may affect future submissions.
Request a Waiver