Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)
The Georgian Medical Journal (GMJ), Volume 1, Issue 1 (2026), marks the official launch of a peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal dedicated to advancing transparent and standards-based medical publishing in Georgia.
Building on internationally recognized principles of scientific publishing, this issue introduces GMJ as a platform aimed at strengthening scientific communication, promoting research integrity, and supporting the integration of Georgian medical research into the international academic community.
The issue includes a selection of peer-reviewed contributions reflecting key areas of health system development:
• An editorial defining the journal’s mission, scope, and editorial standards
• Original research examining accreditation and its role in improving patient safety and healthcare quality
• Analytical work addressing competency-based approaches in healthcare and workforce development
• A review article exploring the relationship between quality standards and health system performance
All manuscripts published in this issue have undergone editorial assessment and peer review by independent experts prior to publication.
Articles are published in open access under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) and include complete metadata and DOI registration to ensure discoverability, citation, and long-term accessibility.
The issue aims to contribute to the strengthening of scientific communication and the international visibility of medical research from Georgia.
This inaugural issue establishes the foundation of a sustainable academic journal committed to supporting evidence-based practice, strengthening professional standards, and contributing to the development of high-quality medical research in Georgia and beyond.
Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Published by: Public Health Institute of Georgia
ISSN: 3088-4322 (Online)
Website: https://www.gmj.ge
Pre-launch articles in the Georgian Medical Journal (GMJ) represent early academic contributions published prior to the official launch of the journal in 2026.
These articles provide expert perspectives on contemporary issues in medicine, public health, health systems, education, ethics, and health policy relevant to Georgia and the wider region. They are presented for archival and reference purposes.
These contributions do not constitute part of the formal journal volume and issue structure. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Georgian Medical Journal or the Public Health Institute of Georgia.
The GMJ Academy Series is a strategic educational initiative of the Georgian Medical Journal, designed to strengthen research capacity and support researchers, students, and health professionals in producing high-quality, publishable academic work.
At the core of this initiative, the GMJ Author Toolkit provides a structured, step-by-step pathway through the complete lifecycle of scientific writing — from idea generation and study design to manuscript preparation, submission, peer review, and publication.
About the Toolkit
The Toolkit is developed as a comprehensive, modular system comprising more than 20 practical documents that address the key components of academic publishing:
— Research planning and study design
— Manuscript structure and scientific writing
— Methodological rigour and statistical reporting
— International reporting standards (CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA, CARE, SQUIRE)
— Ethical and regulatory requirements
— Peer review processes and responding to reviewer comments
— Journal submission strategies and publication readiness
Editorial Standards and Approach
Grounded in internationally recognized frameworks and aligned with leading editorial standards, the Toolkit integrates theory, practical guidance, and applied examples to ensure clarity, consistency, and reproducibility in scientific reporting.
By combining methodological rigour with accessible, practice-oriented instruction, the GMJ Academy Series aims to improve the quality and transparency of academic publications, enhance scientific communication, and empower authors to navigate the publishing process with confidence, precision, and integrity.
Access the Toolkit
All resources within the GMJ Author Toolkit are freely available as part of the journal's commitment to open knowledge and academic development.
GMJ Academy → · Writing Rules → · Templates & Forms → · Submit a Manuscript →
The GMJ Academy Series is a free educational resource published by the Georgian Medical Journal and the Public Health Institute of Georgia. All content is open access under CC BY 4.0. DOI prefix: 10.66636.
Georgian Medical Journal · IAP Legacy Series · Continuous Thematic Series · Open Access · CC BY 4.0 · Published by the Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
The Georgian Medical Journal (GMJ) launches the IAP Legacy Series on Global Health Accountability — a sustained scholarly initiative to preserve, interrogate, and advance the conceptual and operational foundations of accountability in global health.
This Series builds on the work of the Independent Accountability Panel for Every Woman, Every Child, Every Adolescent, established in 2016 within the United Nations Secretary-General's Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy (2016–2030). The Panel provided independent, evidence-informed assessments of progress and gaps in advancing the health and rights of women, children, and adolescents, while articulating accountability as a central function of health systems.
Its core message was unequivocal: accountability is not an adjunct to health systems performance, but one of its defining conditions. It requires credible data, institutional transparency, equity-oriented analysis, and enforceable responsibility across actors and levels of governance.
With the conclusion of the Panel's mandate, the need to sustain and extend this body of work has become more pressing. At the same time, access to elements of its intellectual and operational legacy — including reports, analyses, and supporting materials — has become fragmented. The IAP Legacy Series responds to this moment by establishing a structured academic space for continuity, critical engagement, and forward-looking analysis.
A Continuous Series Embedded in the GMJ Publication Cycle
The IAP Legacy Series is not conceived as a standalone or time-limited special issue. Instead, it is embedded across the regular publication cycle of GMJ as a continuous thematic series.
Submissions addressing global health accountability are actively encouraged on an ongoing basis. Where a sufficient body of work emerges within a given publication cycle, GMJ will curate these contributions as a dedicated thematic section within that issue. Where this threshold is not reached, accepted manuscripts will be published within the general issue structure or carried forward to enable future thematic consolidation.
This model reflects a deliberate editorial choice: to sustain intellectual continuity without fragmenting the journal into multiple special issues, while ensuring both visibility and timeliness of contributions.
Core Elements of the Series
Curated Resource Infrastructure
The Series is supported by a structured resource hub providing organized access to publicly available materials related to the Independent Accountability Panel, including its reports, peer-reviewed publications, and associated outputs.
These materials are accessed through original sources. GMJ does not host or reproduce these documents and does not claim ownership. The purpose is to facilitate academic reference, teaching, and policy engagement.
Scholarly Contributions and Critical Dialogue
At its core, the Series functions as an open platform for rigorous academic work examining accountability across health systems.
Contributions may address, among others:
— governance and institutional accountability mechanisms
— monitoring and evaluation frameworks
— data integrity and transparency
— equity and rights-based approaches
— implementation challenges across diverse health system contexts
The Series aims to foster cumulative knowledge and critical debate on how accountability can be operationalized in practice, beyond declarative commitments.
Positioning and Scope
The IAP Legacy Series is an independent academic initiative hosted by the Georgian Medical Journal.
It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or formally connected to the United Nations, the Every Woman Every Child initiative, or the Independent Accountability Panel. All referenced materials remain the intellectual property of their respective authors and institutions.
Call for Contributions
GMJ invites researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to contribute to the IAP Legacy Series.
Submissions will undergo the standard peer-review process and will be published within the journal's regular issues. Where appropriate, they will be grouped into thematic sections that reflect the evolving contours of global health accountability.
By embedding this Series within the ongoing life of the journal, GMJ seeks to move beyond episodic attention and toward sustained, cumulative engagement with one of the defining challenges of contemporary global health systems.
Submit a manuscript → · Open Knowledge Hub →
Editorial Note: The IAP Legacy Series is an independent academic initiative hosted by GMJ and PHIG. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or formally connected to the United Nations, the Every Woman Every Child initiative, or the Independent Accountability Panel. All referenced materials remain the intellectual property of their respective authors and institutions. Open Access · CC BY 4.0 · DOI prefix: 10.66636.
Georgian Medical Journal · Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026) · Open Access · DOI prefix: 10.66636 · CC BY 4.0
Published by the Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
This main issue of the Georgian Medical Journal (GMJ) focuses on health systems performance and quality of care, addressing key dimensions of measurement, improvement, and outcomes across healthcare systems.
The issue brings together research and analytical contributions examining patient safety, quality improvement, system efficiency, and performance evaluation frameworks. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based approaches to strengthening healthcare delivery and improving health outcomes at both national and global levels.
By integrating research, policy analysis, and practical perspectives, this issue contributes to a deeper understanding of how health systems can achieve sustainable improvements in quality, effectiveness, and accountability.
Scope of This Issue
— Health systems performance measurement and evaluation frameworks
— Patient safety and quality improvement in healthcare settings
— System efficiency and accountability mechanisms
— Evidence-based approaches to healthcare delivery strengthening
— National and global health outcomes assessment
— Governance and institutional frameworks for quality of care
Call for Contributions
The Georgian Medical Journal invites submissions from researchers, clinicians, public health professionals, health system managers, policymakers, and institutional partners working in health systems performance, quality of care, and related fields.
Accepted submission types:
— Original research articles
— Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
— Policy analyses
— Analytical commentaries
— Case studies and country experiences
— Short communications and expert perspectives
All submissions undergo editorial assessment and peer review in accordance with GMJ standards, ensuring scientific rigor, methodological transparency, and open-access dissemination.
Submit via: gmj.ge/submissions →
Editorial Note. This issue is an independent academic publication of the Georgian Medical Journal, published by the Public Health Institute of Georgia. All content is peer-reviewed and published under open-access principles. Open Access · CC BY 4.0 · DOI prefix: 10.66636.
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The Georgian Medical Journal (GMJ) has been accepted for inclusion in the Scientific Journal Impact Factor (SJIF) Journals Master List and is currently undergoing evaluation for the SJIF 2026 Impact Factor.
The Georgian Medical Journal has published its Preprint Policy, effective 28 May 2026. GMJ formally accepts manuscripts previously posted on recognised preprint servers including medRxiv, bioRxiv, Preprints.org, OSF Preprints, SSRN, and Research Square. Preprint posting does not constitute prior publication, consistent with ICMJE and COPE recommendations. Authors must disclose any preprint DOI at submission. Read the full policy: https://gmj.ge/index.php/pub/preprint-policy
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