Publication Ethics
1. General Principles
Journal of Health Policy and Management (JHPM) is committed to handling complaints and appeals fairly, transparently, confidentially, and impartially. All complaints and appeals will be addressed in accordance with the journal's editorial policies and relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and other parties who wish to raise concerns regarding editorial decisions, peer review conduct, editorial procedures, or suspected publication misconduct.
2. Submission of Complaints and Appeals
Complaints and appeals must be submitted in writing to the JHPM Editorial Office through the journal's official email address: jpolicymanage@gmail.com.
Submissions should include the complainant's name and contact information, manuscript title and identification number (if applicable), a clear description of the concern, and relevant supporting evidence.
Complaints involving suspected research misconduct may also be submitted confidentially. Anonymous complaints will be considered when sufficient evidence is provided to enable an investigation.
3. Complaints Handling Procedure
Complaints may concern editorial procedures, inappropriate reviewer or editor conduct, conflicts of interest, breaches of confidentiality, unreasonable editorial delays, or suspected violations of publication ethics.
Upon receiving a complaint, the Editorial Office will acknowledge receipt within five working days and conduct an initial assessment to determine the nature of the concern and the appropriate handling procedure.
Complaints will be referred to the Editor-in-Chief or a designated senior editor who has not been directly involved in the matter. If the complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief, it will be referred to an independent member of the Editorial Board or a designated representative of the publisher who has no conflict of interest.
The appointed handler will review the available evidence, seek clarification from relevant parties when necessary, and determine appropriate corrective actions. All parties involved will be given a fair opportunity to provide relevant information.
JHPM aims to provide a written response within 30 calendar days. If additional investigation is required, the complainant will be informed of the delay and the expected timeframe.
4. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions
Authors who believe that an editorial decision was based on a significant factual error, procedural irregularity, conflict of interest, or substantial misunderstanding of the manuscript may submit a formal appeal.
Appeals must be submitted by the corresponding author within 30 calendar days of receiving the editorial decision. The appeal should include a clear justification, supporting evidence, and a point-by-point response to the relevant editorial or reviewer comments.
The appeal will be evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief or a senior editor who was not involved in the original decision. Where necessary, an independent reviewer or Editorial Board member may be consulted.
Following the assessment, the original decision may be upheld, reconsidered, or referred for additional peer review. An appeal does not guarantee acceptance of the manuscript.
JHPM aims to communicate the appeal decision within 30 calendar days. The final decision and its rationale will be communicated to the corresponding author in writing.
5. Further Review and Escalation
If the complainant believes that the complaint or appeal was not handled fairly, they may request further review by an independent Editorial Board member or a designated publisher representative who was not involved in the original investigation or decision.
The request must explain the grounds for further review and provide any relevant additional evidence. The appointed representative will assess whether the established procedures were followed and whether further action is necessary.
For complex or unresolved publication ethics concerns, JHPM may seek guidance from COPE, where appropriate.
6. Confidentiality and Communication of Decisions
All complaints, appeals, investigations, and related correspondence will be treated confidentially. Information will be disclosed only to individuals directly involved in the assessment or when required by applicable ethical or legal obligations.
The outcome of each complaint or appeal will be communicated in writing through the official journal email. The notification will include the decision, a summary of the reasons, any corrective action deemed necessary, and information on further review where applicable.
JHPM will maintain confidential records of complaints and appeals to support accountability and continuous improvement of its editorial processes.
