Appeals & Complaints Policy

JSHMDC is committed to handling appeals and complaints fairly, transparently, promptly, and in accordance with the principles of publication ethics and relevant guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

APPEAL POLICY

  • Authors have the right to appeal an editorial decision, including rejection of a manuscript, when they believe that the decision was based on a significant error in the review process, a misunderstanding of the manuscript, or relevant information that was not adequately considered.
  • Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief through the journal's official email address, jsmdc@sihs.org.pk, preferably within 30 days of the decision. The appeal should clearly explain the grounds for reconsideration and provide any relevant evidence or clarification. An appeal should not simply repeat the original submission or disagree with the reviewers' opinions without providing substantive grounds.
  • Upon receipt of an appeal, the Editor-in-Chief will acknowledge the appeal and assess whether there are sufficient grounds for reconsideration. Where appropriate, the appeal will be referred to a Section Editor or another senior editorial board member who was not involved in the original decision.
  • The reviewer reports and the author's response will be considered during the appeal. Where necessary, the journal may seek an additional independent review or expert opinion. The Editor-in-Chief will make the final decision based on the available evidence and in accordance with relevant COPE guidelines, flowcharts, and journal policies.
  • Where the Editor-in-Chief was involved in the original decision or has a conflict of interest, the appeal will be handled by an appropriately designated senior editor who was not involved in the original decision.
  • The outcome of the appeal, with an explanation where appropriate, will be communicated to the author. Decisions made following the appeal process are final.
  • An appeal does not guarantee reversal of the original editorial decision and does not normally suspend consideration of other manuscripts submitted by the author.

 

 

COMPLAINT POLICY

  • Complaints may relate to the conduct of editors and/or peer reviewers — for example, breaches of confidentiality, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or misuse of privileged information obtained during peer review. They may also arise from disputes over substantive editorial decisions, such as disagreements about retractions or expressions of concern and how these were handled. Other complaints may be administrative in nature, such as irregularities in editorial processes or unresponsiveness of journal staff.
  • Authors, reviewers, readers, editors, and other individuals may submit a formal complaint concerning the journal's editorial processes, publication practices, editorial conduct, peer review, or alleged publication misconduct.
  • Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief through the journal's official email address, jsmdc@sihs.org.pk, with sufficient details and supporting documentation to allow the matter to be assessed.
  • Complaints concerning the editorial team or a member of the Editorial Board will be handled, where possible, by an appropriate senior editorial representative who is independent of the matter under complaint. No individual should participate in the investigation or decision of a complaint in which they have a conflict of interest.
  • The journal will acknowledge receipt of a complaint and conduct an appropriate preliminary assessment. Where the complaint raises concerns regarding publication ethics or research misconduct, JSHMDC will investigate the matter and handle publication ethics complaints in accordance with relevant COPE guidelines and flowcharts.
  • Complaints will be handled confidentially and impartially, while allowing appropriate parties an opportunity to respond to the concerns raised.
  • Where a complaint concerns an allegation of research or publication misconduct, the journal may contact the relevant author's institution or other appropriate authority when necessary for a proper investigation.

COMPLAINTS ABOUT JOURNAL PROCESSES

  • Complaints concerning matters such as excessive delays in manuscript processing, communication problems, peer-review procedures, or other journal processes should be sent to jsmdc@sihs.org.pk, addressed to the Editor-in-Chief.
  • The journal will review such complaints and take reasonable steps to address legitimate concerns and improve its editorial processes.

UNRESOLVED COMPLAINTS

JSHMDC will make reasonable efforts to resolve complaints through its internal procedures. If a complainant remains dissatisfied after the journal's complaints procedure has been completed, they may seek advice or pursue the matter through an appropriate independent external authority, professional body, or regulatory body, where applicable.

RECORD KEEPING

The JSHMDC office will maintain appropriate records of appeals and complaints, including the nature of the concern, the investigation undertaken, and the outcome. The journal will handle these records confidentially and retain them in accordance with the journal's policies and applicable requirements.