Southern Med Review to Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice: broadening the remit!

We are happy to announce the metamorphosis of the Southern Med Review (SMR) into the Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice [1-3]. As an open access journal published by BioMed Central [4-7], Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice (JoPPP) will reach a greater number of readers. Open access will lead to a wider readership, higher downloads, higher citations, and a higher Impact Factor [7-9]. Articles are archived in PubMed Central, and other freely accessible full-text repositories which also extends the access by readership. While rejoicing the start of an exciting new phase, it seems appropriate to review where we have come from and where are we heading with this new Journal. The first issue (Vol 1 Issue 1) of SMR was published on 23rd Dec 2008 [1,2]. Since its beginning, nine issues have been published which include a total of 70 articles. Issues covered have included medicines access (governance, development and pharmaceutical systems, pharmacoeconomics, medicine pricing policies, patents and TRIPS, and affordability) as well as medicines use (socio behavioural aspects of medicine use, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacovigilance, drug utilization studies, pharmacy practice issues and concerns) [1]. The main aim of SMR was to promote pharmaceutical policy research from low and middle income countries a job which the journal did well. SMR provided opportunity and support to emerging researchers with 30 to 40% of the contributors being first time authors [1]. The journal also published studies on the pharmaceutical situation of countries where little or no pharmaceutical literature is available e.g. Slovenia, Macedonia and Afghanistan [10-12]. SMR was commended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its policy impact was evident from published studies which were instrumental in