title: Open access for operational research publications from low- and middle-income countries: who pays?
abstract: Open-access journal publications aim to ensure that new knowledge is widely disseminated and made freely accessible in a timely manner so that it can be used to improve people's health, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries. In this paper, we briefly explain the differences between closed- and open-access journals, including the evolving idea of the 'open-access spectrum'. We highlight the potential benefits of supporting open access for operational research, and discuss the conundrum and ways forward as regards who pays for open access.
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operations Research Unit (LUXOR), MSF-Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
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authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operations Research Unit (LUXOR), MSF-Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
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authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operations Research Unit (LUXOR), MSF-Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
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authors.affiliation: United Nations Children's Fund/United Nations Development Programme/World Bank/World Health Organization Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
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authors.lastname: Reeder
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authors.forename: O
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authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operations Research Unit (LUXOR), MSF-Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Operational Centre Brussels, Medical Department, Operations Research Unit (LUXOR), MSF-Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: M
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authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
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authors.affiliation: University of Nairobi, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nairobi, Kenya.
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authors.initials: RJ
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authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
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authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Quaglio
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
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authors.lastname: Maher
authors.affiliation: The Union, Centre for Operational Research, Paris, France.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Billo
authors.affiliation: United Nations Children's Fund/United Nations Development Programme/World Bank/World Health Organization Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.affiliation: The Union, Centre for Operational Research, Paris, France ; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
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keywords: SORT IT; journals; knowledge; operational research; publications