Editorial policy

This policy explains how we produce health content you can rely on.

Who writes for us

Articles are written by health professionals who are registered with the relevant professional council or regulator in their country. Before we publish an author, we check their registration. Each article is published under the author's real name, with their profession and country, and links to an author page. We do not publish anonymous or invented authors.

Sources

• We base articles on reliable, current sources, such as national and international clinical guidelines, regulators and official medicine labels, public health agencies and peer-reviewed research.
• Authors are expected to cite the main sources they relied on and to say where evidence is limited or uncertain.
• We do not make claims about cures, guaranteed results or miracle products.
• We aim to reflect African practice and context where it differs from guidance written for other regions, and we say so when a recommendation comes from a different setting.

Review process

1. The author submits a draft, with sources.
2. An editor checks it for accuracy against the sources, for clarity and for safety. Articles are written for the general public in plain English.
3. Where possible, a second health professional with relevant expertise reviews the article. When this happens, the article says "Medically reviewed by" and names the reviewer.
4. Articles show their publication date and the date they were last reviewed. We revisit articles periodically and when guidance changes.

Corrections

If you believe an article contains an error or is out of date, please email [email protected] with the article link and details. We will check it, correct confirmed errors promptly and update the review date. Significant corrections are noted on the article.

No paid medical claims

We do not accept payment to publish, promote or change medical content. We do not publish sponsored articles presented as independent health advice. If we ever carry advertising, it will be clearly labelled and kept separate from our articles, and advertisers will have no influence over what we write.

Conflicts of interest

• PHF was founded by Thomas Whitcho, who is also the author of health books that we promote on this site. Where an article links to one of those books, it is clearly marked as a book by our founder.
• We ask every author to tell us about any financial or professional interest in a product, brand or service mentioned in their article. Relevant interests will be disclosed to readers.
• Authors may mention their own practice or services in their author biography only, not within the advice itself.

Not medical advice

Our content is general information. Please read our medical disclaimer.