Peer Review Policy

Scope of peer review

Global Medical Reviews (GMR) publishes Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Both article types are subject to external peer review.

• At least two external and independent reviewers are required before an acceptance decision.
• The manuscript, author-identifying information needed for assessment, and relevant supplementary materials may be made available to reviewers after they accept the invitation.

Single-blind model

Reviewer identities are not disclosed to authors. Reviewers may receive author names, affiliations and other identifying information. The handling editor and authorized editorial staff know the identities needed to administer the process.

• Reviewer reports are transmitted to authors without reviewer names.
• Reviewer reports are not published and reviewers do not sign comments to authors.
• Reviewers do not see the identities or reports of other reviewers unless the editor determines that a controlled consultation is necessary.

Editorial assessment and reviewer selection

• The Editorial Office performs a technical check before academic assessment.
• A handling editor assesses scope, reporting completeness, protocol information, conflicts and basic methodological suitability.
• Reviewers are selected for relevant expertise, independence, availability and workload.
• Reviewers must disclose financial, collaborative, supervisory, institutional, personal and other conflicts before accepting.
• Editors may seek a third review when reports materially conflict or specialist expertise is missing.

Decision authority

Reviewer recommendations are advisory. The handling editor evaluates the manuscript, all reports, author responses and journal policies. The Editor-in-Chief may review disputed, high-risk or integrity-related cases. Acceptance cannot be issued until the minimum independent-review requirement is met.

Exact exceptions

The following non-scholarly record-maintenance items do not undergo the ordinary two-reviewer process: Correction, Retraction, Expression of Concern, Publisher Notice, Editorial Notice and administrative journal announcements. They receive appropriate editorial and, where needed, legal or research-integrity review. Letters to the Editor receive editorial assessment and may be externally reviewed when they contain substantial methodological analysis, new calculations or allegations requiring specialist assessment.

Timelines and records

• The response and review due dates are stated in each individual reviewer invitation and secure portal.
• The journal records invitations, responses, reminders, extensions, reports, decisions and recusals in the secure editorial system.
• Authors are informed when unusual delay materially affects processing.