Plagiarism Policy

International Journal of Public Health & Medical Science (IJPHMS)

The International Journal of Public Health & Medical Science (IJPHMS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and publication ethics. Plagiarism in any form is considered a serious breach of ethical conduct and is not tolerated.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

For the purposes of IJPHMS, plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

• Using another author’s words, ideas, data, tables, figures, or methods without proper acknowledgment
• Copying large portions of text from previously published work, including the author’s own work, without citation (text recycling)
• Submitting a manuscript that is substantially similar to a previously published article (duplicate publication)
• Paraphrasing another work too closely while changing only a few words or structure (mosaic plagiarism)

Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional, but both are treated as violations of the journal’s ethical standards.

2. Plagiarism Screening

All submissions to IJPHMS are subject to plagiarism screening using recognized plagiarism detection software and/or manual checks by editors and reviewers. This screening may occur:

• At initial submission (before peer review)
• During the review process, if concerns are raised
• After acceptance, if new information becomes available

The similarity report is evaluated in context, taking into account standard phrases, references, and legitimate overlap (such as methods sections), but excessive or inappropriate similarity is not accepted.

3. Acceptable Similarity and Overlap

A limited level of textual overlap may be acceptable in:

• Methodological descriptions that follow standard wording
• Background information or literature review with proper citations
• Author’s own previously published work, when appropriately cited and not excessively reproduced

However, IJPHMS does not permit:

• Submission of the same or substantially similar manuscript to more than one journal at the same time
• Republishing the same article in another journal without clear justification and agreement, even if the authors retain copyright

The editorial team reserves the right to determine whether the degree and nature of overlap is acceptable.

4. Self-Plagiarism and Redundant Publication

Authors must clearly indicate when their current manuscript builds on previously published work, including:

• Prior conference papers
• Preprints
• Theses or dissertations
• Earlier related articles

Substantial reuse of text, data, or figures from the authors’ own previous publications without proper citation and clear distinction of new contributions is considered self-plagiarism and may lead to rejection.

When a manuscript is based on previously presented or published material, authors must:

• Disclose this in the cover letter
• Cite the earlier work clearly
• Explain what is new in the submitted manuscript (for example, expanded data, new analysis, extended follow-up)

5. Responsibilities of Authors

By submitting a manuscript to IJPHMS, authors affirm that:

• The work is original and has not been plagiarized in whole or in part
• All sources used are properly cited and referenced
• Any material reproduced from other works (text, figures, tables) has appropriate permission if required
• There is no duplicate or redundant submission to other journals

Authors are strongly encouraged to check their manuscripts for similarity before submission.

6. Handling Suspected Plagiarism

If plagiarism is suspected at any stage (submission, peer review, or after publication), the following steps may be taken:

1. Initial Assessment
   The Editor-in-Chief or Handling Editor reviews the similarity report and relevant sections of the manuscript. Authors may be contacted for clarification or explanation.
2. Minor Overlap
   If minor overlap is detected (for example, limited text in methods or background), authors may be asked to revise and improve citations or rephrase the text.
3. Significant Plagiarism or Redundant Publication
   The manuscript may be rejected outright. If already published, a correction, retraction, or expression of concern may be issued, depending on the severity. In serious cases, the journal may inform the authors’ institution or funding body.

7. Post-Publication Plagiarism

If plagiarism is discovered after an article has been published:

• The editorial board will investigate the matter.
• When plagiarism is confirmed, the journal may retract the article or publish a retraction notice, clearly indicating the reason for retraction.
• The article may be watermarked or marked as retracted in the online system.

8. Education and Prevention

IJPHMS encourages authors, especially early-career researchers and students, to familiarize themselves with ethical writing and proper citation practices, seek guidance from supervisors, mentors, or institutional ethics committees where needed, and use plagiarism detection tools before submission to reduce unintentional overlap.