A medical journal that started life as a one-man project from his Auckland home, has influenced pharmaceutical policy in nations around the world.

Today Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice (JoPPP) transfers to publish with BioMed Central, and also marks a new chapter for the journal, which was started five years ago by The University of Auckland senior lecturer Dr. Zaheer-Ud-Din- Babar, supported by an expert International Advisory Board.

Formerly known as Southern Med Review, the journal has been unique in publishing the work of new researchers, documenting the pharmaceutical situation of low- and middle-income countries and debating pertinent pharmaceutical policy questions. Published studies have been instrumental in changing medicine policies in some countries, such as Vietnam and Thailand, and have led to the journal being recognised by the WHO as fulfilling a global need. BioMed Central will support the continued growth and development of the re-launched journal.

Dr. Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar said of the move:

“The new journal will focus on the global agenda, including high income economies and will provide a platform for researchers to disseminate empirical research findings with the aim that people everywhere will have access to the medicines they need and use them rationally.”

JoPPP encompasses all aspects of pharmacy whether clinical, social, administrative or economic, and provides a platform to researchers, academics and practitioners from around the world to share new evidence, concerns and perspectives.

The journal’s inaugural articles include an assessment of the therapeutic value of new medicines marketed in Australia, a study evaluating patient perceptions of generic medicines in Jordan, and an article assessing the antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of microorganisms isolated from CSF to antibiotics commonly used in the empirical treatment of suspected bacterial meningitis in Namibia.

You can read all of the published articles, and find out more about JoPPP, via the journal’s website, where you can also submit a manuscript, and sign up for article alerts.