Reconfiguring global primary care evidence: The essential role of regional journals

Primary care research (PCR) strengthens health systems and informs policy, but is dominated by high-income country (HIC) institutions and authors creating epistemic injustice by marginalising local knowledge from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and reinforcing structural inequities. Regional journals are vital for providing accessible, relevant evidence by lowering publishing barriers, supporting emerging researchers, enabling multilingual dissemination, and creating practice-focused knowledge for local health systems. Strengthening regional publishing is essential for a diverse, equitable global evidence base that improves the relevance, impact, and fairness of global PCR. Contribution: This article advances primary care scholarship by invoking epistemic justice and emphasising regional journals as vital for equitable knowledge. It references journals such as South African Family Practice, which celebrates 45 years of local research and mentorship. It links representation, research, and publishing, critiques citation metrics, and offers strategies to improve regional journals and promote justice in global primary care evidence.