Publication Ethics

International Journal of Public Health & Medical Science (IJPHMS)

The International Journal of Public Health & Medical Science (IJPHMS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The journal follows internationally recognized guidelines, including those established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All stakeholders involved in the publication process authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers are expected to adhere to the ethical principles outlined below.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

1.1 Originality and Integrity

Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are original, have not been published previously, and are not under consideration by another journal. All forms of plagiarism including self-plagiarism, text recycling, and duplicate publication are strictly prohibited.

1.2 Accuracy of Data

Authors are responsible for providing accurate, reliable, and verifiable data. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is considered scientific misconduct.

1.3 Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the study. All authors must approve the final manuscript and agree to its submission.

1.4 Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that may influence the research or its interpretation.

1.5 Acknowledgment of Sources

Proper citation of all referenced work is required. Authors must acknowledge contributions from individuals or organizations that supported the research but do not meet authorship criteria.

1.6 Ethical Approval and Consent

Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must have appropriate ethical clearance. Authors must state that ethical approval was obtained and that informed consent was secured when applicable.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

2.1 Confidentiality

Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and must not disclose or use any information for personal advantage.

2.2 Objectivity and Fairness

Reviews must be conducted objectively, free from personal bias, and aimed at improving the scientific quality of the work.

2.3 Acknowledgment of Relevant Work

Reviewers should identify relevant published work not cited by the authors and notify the editor of any suspected plagiarism or duplicate publication.

2.4 Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must decline the review if they have any competing interests with the authors or related institutions.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

3.1 Editorial Independence

Editors make publication decisions based solely on the manuscript’s scientific merit, relevance, originality, and clarity, without influence from commercial or political factors.

3.2 Fair Evaluation

Editors must ensure that submitted manuscripts receive unbiased and confidential evaluation.

3.3 Handling of Misconduct

Editors are responsible for investigating suspected ethical misconduct such as plagiarism, duplicate submission, data fabrication, or authorship disputes. Appropriate actions will be taken following COPE guidelines.

3.4 Prevention of Conflicts of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher

4.1 Safeguarding Scholarly Integrity

The publisher ensures that all content is archived, preserved, and accessible. The publisher supports editors and reviewers in maintaining ethical standards.

4.2 Addressing Misconduct

In cases of confirmed misconduct, the publisher may issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern as appropriate.

5. Misconduct and Corrective Actions

IJPHMS takes all forms of ethical misconduct seriously. When concerns arise:

• The journal may request detailed explanations from authors
• Manuscripts may be suspended during investigation
• Confirmed cases may lead to rejection, retraction, publication of notices, or author sanctions
• Institutions may be notified in severe cases

6. Transparency and Accountability

The journal is committed to transparency throughout the publication process. Any substantive errors identified post-publication will be corrected promptly through errata, corrigenda, or retraction notices.