No, absolutely not. Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit. Reviewers and editors are not informed about waiver status to maintain complete separation between financial considerations and editorial decisions.

Waiver applications are only accepted during initial submission. We recommend checking eligibility and applying early. Contact the editorial office in exceptional circumstances for guidance.

Documentation may include: letter from institution confirming lack of funding, personal statement explaining circumstances, proof of student status, or other evidence of financial need. All information is kept confidential.

Reviewers receive points for each completed review. Upon accumulating points equivalent to 3 reviews (within 12 months), they qualify for one free publication. Points are tracked automatically in our reviewer database.

Waivers are available for all article types that carry APCs, including research articles, reviews, and case reports. Some special article types (editorials, letters) may already be free of charge.

Some waivers can be combined. For example, reviewer waivers can be combined with country-based partial waivers. Each application is assessed individually to maximize benefits for authors.

Authors from countries not on the automatic list can still apply for hardship-based waivers. Submit a request with supporting documentation explaining your circumstances for consideration.