Author guidelines
Everything you need to know about writing for MJPHM — our standards, content requirements, and how to submit.
Who we’re looking for
MJPHM publishes evidence-based health information for a Malaysian audience. We welcome submissions from health professionals, researchers, medical writers, public health practitioners, and subject-matter experts who can translate complex health topics into clear, accessible language.
You do not need to be an academic or hold a medical degree to write for us — but you do need to be able to write accurately about health topics, cite credible sources, and follow the editorial standards outlined on this page. Strong familiarity with your chosen health topic is essential.
We are particularly interested in authors who can write about health issues relevant to Malaysia and Southeast Asia — including chronic disease management, mental health, maternal health, occupational safety, infectious diseases, and traditional medicine.
Content standards
Every article published on MJPHM must meet the following standards. Submissions that do not meet these requirements will be returned for revision.
Article requirements
Length
1,500 to 4,000 words for standard articles. Shorter pieces (800–1,200 words) considered for focused health tips and explainers.
Language
English is the primary language of publication. Articles in Bahasa Melayu may be considered and must include an English summary.
Format
Submit as a Word document (.docx) or Google Doc. PDFs are not accepted for initial submissions.
Originality
All submissions must be original work not published elsewhere or simultaneously under consideration by another publication.
Structure
Articles should include a clear introduction, well-organised body sections with subheadings, and a concise conclusion or key takeaways section.
Readability
Write for a general audience. Avoid unnecessary jargon. Medical terminology should be explained in plain language on first use.
Sourcing requirements
Health claims must be supported by credible sources. Every factual claim, statistic, and medical recommendation in your article must be traceable to a verifiable source. We take this seriously — unsourced health information can cause real harm.
Acceptable sources
Sources we do not accept
Inline citations are required throughout the article. Use numbered references in the text (e.g. superscript numbers) with a full reference list at the end of the article. Include DOI links where available.
Topics we cover
MJPHM focuses on health topics relevant to Malaysians and the broader Southeast Asian population. We publish across the following areas, and welcome pitches on related topics:
Non-communicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity), mental health and psychological wellbeing, occupational health and workplace safety, infectious diseases (dengue, TB, hepatitis), maternal and child health, nutrition and dietary health, traditional and complementary medicine, environmental health (haze, air quality, water safety), health systems and healthcare access, and public health policy.
We are not currently accepting content on cosmetic procedures, weight-loss supplements, or any topic that primarily serves a commercial purpose.
Submission process
Send us a pitch
Email us a brief outline of your proposed article — the topic, the angle, your key sources, and a sentence about your relevant background. This saves time for both sides before you write the full draft.
Write and submit your draft
If your pitch is approved, write the full article following the standards on this page. Submit your draft as a Word document along with your full reference list and a brief author bio.
Editorial review
Our editorial team reviews every submission for accuracy, sourcing quality, readability, and balance. We fact-check key claims against primary sources. You may receive the article back with revision requests — this is normal and part of our quality process.
Revisions and approval
Address any editorial feedback and resubmit. Once the article meets our standards, we will confirm acceptance and schedule it for publication.
Publication
Your article is published with your byline and bio. All published articles display a publication date and are subject to our ongoing content review policy — we may update articles if new evidence emerges, and we will notify you if significant changes are made.
Rights and licensing
By submitting content to MJPHM, you confirm that the work is your own, that it has not been published elsewhere, and that you have the right to grant us a licence to publish it. Authors retain ownership of their work. MJPHM is granted a non-exclusive licence to publish, edit, and distribute the article on our platform.
All published articles are made freely available to readers. We do not charge authors any submission or processing fees.
What we don’t publish
To maintain our editorial standards and protect our readers, we do not accept content that makes unsubstantiated health claims or promotes miracle cures, is primarily promotional in nature or written to sell a product or service, contains plagiarised material or closely paraphrases existing articles, presents opinion as medical fact without supporting evidence, or targets vulnerable populations with misleading health information.
Contact
Send pitches, completed drafts, and questions about writing for us to:
Have expertise to share?
We’re always looking for knowledgeable authors who care about making health information accessible to Malaysians.
Send us a pitch