Get your Health systems in transition paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
4.3
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 13 August, 2026
Submitting to Health systems in transition goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Health systems in transition guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Health systems in transition. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the Health systems in transition journal page before you draft.
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the Health systems in transition guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the Health systems in transition guide for authors before you submit.
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through the journal (invitation-only).
| Element | Health Syst transition requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Unstructured abstract; maximum 300 words. The abstract should provide a summary of the HiT profile in no more than 300 words |
| Main text | Total allowed: 35,000 words across all chapters. Chapter limits: Introduction (2,500), Organization and governance (6,000), Financing (7,000), Physical and human resources (3,000), Provision of services (8,000), Principal health reforms (2,000), Assessment of the health system (6,000), Conclusion (500). Authors encouraged to stay well below limits |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Not specified in the official author guidelines |
| References | Harvard system (also known as Author-date system). In-text citations in parentheses, e.g. (Taylor, 1996) or (Taylor, 1996; Connor, 2002). Full references listed alphabetically in the References section. Authors should consult the WHO Style Guide for further information |
| Peer review | External review process managed by editors; specific peer review model (single-blind/double-blind/open) not stated in the official author guidelines template |
| Submission | Invitation-only / commissioned; details provided to invited authors |
Read the Health systems in transition guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to Health systems in transition in under a page.
Skim two or three recent Health Syst transition papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the Health systems in transition journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Do one focused pass against the Health systems in transition guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through the journal (invitation-only).