Editorial Policies

1. Editorial Independence

·         The Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Studies (JPSCS) maintains full editorial independence.

·         All editorial decisions are based on the academic merit of submissions, without influence from sponsors, advertisers, or institutional affiliations.

·         Editors are not permitted to handle submissions in which they have a conflict of interest.

2. Editorial Structure

·         JPSCS is managed by the following editorial hierarchy:

·         - Editor-in-Chief: Holds final decision-making authority.

·         - Associate Editors: Supervise peer review and suggest editorial decisions.

·         - Section Editors: Manage manuscripts in their subject area.

·         - Editorial Board Members: Review submissions and provide policy guidance.

3. Editorial Responsibilities

·         Editors are responsible for ensuring fair, timely, and transparent editorial practices.

·         They must maintain confidentiality, avoid conflicts of interest, and uphold ethical standards.

·         They are tasked with issuing corrections or retractions when necessary.

4. Manuscript Handling Procedure

·         Initial Screening: Each submission is evaluated for originality, relevance, formatting, and plagiarism.

·         Editorial Review: Suitability for the journal’s scope and policy compliance is assessed.

·         Peer Review: Manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review by at least two experts.

·         Decision: Final decisions are made based on reviewer recommendations and editorial standards.

·         Revisions: Authors are required to address reviewer and editor comments before acceptance.

5. Review Process and Timelines

·         Manuscripts are reviewed within 2–4 weeks.

·         Authors are expected to submit revisions within 10–15 days (minor) or 30 days (major).

·         Accepted manuscripts are published within three weeks of final approval.

6. Confidentiality

·         All manuscript content and correspondence are treated as confidential.

·         Editors and reviewers must not disclose any information to unauthorized individuals.

·         Authors and reviewers are expected to maintain confidentiality throughout the process.

7. Appeals and Complaints

·         Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a written justification to the Editor-in-Chief.

·         Appeals are reviewed by an independent editorial board member.

·         Complaints related to editorial misconduct should be sent to: administrator@jpscsjournal.com

8. Authorship and Contributor Policy

·         JPSCS follows ICMJE authorship criteria: substantial contribution, drafting/revision, and approval of the final version.

·         Changes in authorship after submission must be approved by all co-authors.

·         Ghost authorship and honorary authorship are strictly prohibited.

9. Editorial Conflicts of Interest

·         Editors must disclose and avoid handling manuscripts where a conflict exists.

·         Such submissions will be reassigned to a neutral editor to ensure impartiality.

10. Continuous Editorial Evaluation

·         The editorial board is reviewed periodically for activity, expertise, and diversity.

·         New members are added to ensure global representation and high academic standards.