Scaling Impact: Announcing the PAMJ 2025 Annual Report

The Pan African Medical Journal (PAMJ) is pleased to share highlights from its 2025 Annual Report, marking another year of sustained growth, expanding global reach, and continued commitment to high-quality, open-access scientific publishing.

In 2025, PAMJ processed 3,607 manuscript submissions from 105 countries, representing a 10.85% increase compared to 2024. This growth reflects rising confidence in PAMJ as a trusted platform for African and global health research.

“The continued increase in submissions confirms the trust that researchers place in PAMJ. Our responsibility is to honor that trust by maintaining rigorous editorial standards while improving efficiency and transparency,” said the PAMJ Editorial Office.

Growth with selectivity

Despite the growing volume of submissions, PAMJ maintained strong editorial selectivity, with an overall acceptance rate of 10.7%. Our flagship journal, the Pan African Medical Journal, remained particularly selective, accepting fewer than one in ten submissions. Other journals within the PAMJ ecosystem, including PAMJ–Clinical Medicine, PAMJ–One Health, and PHCP continued to expand while upholding quality standards.

“Growth alone is not our objective. Selectivity and scientific rigor remain central to PAMJ’s editorial philosophy,” Dr Raoul KAMADJEU, Founder and Managing Editor of the PAMJ emphasized.

A diverse and global author community

PAMJ’s author base in 2025 was notably diverse, spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Oceania. While African countries remained at the core of PAMJ’s mission, particularly Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the DRC; India emerged as the single largest contributing country, reflecting PAMJ’s increasing global relevance.

The journal also reinforced its commitment to linguistic inclusivity, with 13.2% of submissions received in French, ensuring continued support for Francophone researchers.

“Supporting African research also means supporting Africa’s linguistic diversity. Maintaining a strong Francophone presence remains a strategic priority for PAMJ, in 2026, we will allow author to include abstracts in other African languages such as Swahili” noted the Editorial Office.

Editorial efficiency and operational challenges

Using the PAMJ Workflow manuscript management system, the journal achieved a median time to publication of 83 days, with an average of 104 days. While these timelines remain competitive, the Annual Report acknowledges operational challenges linked to submission growth, reviewer availability, and limited financial resources.

“The success of PAMJ brings real operational pressure. We are transparent about these challenges and actively working on solutions that protect both quality and author experience,” Dr Raoul Kamadjeu stated.

Peer review and community building

Peer review in 2025 was supported by close to 300 experts from 52 countries, with a strong contribution from African reviewers. However, the report highlights the need to further broaden and diversify this pool to ensure sustainability.

“Building a vibrant, global community of reviewers and associate editors is essential for the long-term resilience of PAMJ,” the Editorial Office said.

Looking ahead to 2026

The Annual Report outlines a forward-looking agenda for 2026, focused on:

• Streamlining editorial workflows to reduce delays;
• Expanding editorial capacity through the recruitment of over 100 volunteer Associate Editors across six continents;
• Strengthening author engagement through clearer guidance and improved communication.
• “Our ambition is clear: to remain a journal of reference for African research while continuously improving how we serve authors, reviewers, and readers,” concluded the managing editor.

A shared mission

As PAMJ enters 2026, the journal reaffirms its commitment to amplifying African science, fostering equitable access to publication, and adhering to the highest standards of editorial integrity. The PAMJ Annual Report 2025 is both a reflection on progress made and a roadmap for the future.

Read the full PAMJ Annual Report 2025 to explore the data, trends, and strategic priorities shaping the future of African biomedical publishing.