The International Journal of Health Concord (IHC) is a peer-reviewed international journal committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. This ethical statement outlines the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers involved in the publication process.

IHC adheres to the principles and best practices set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). All publication ethics policies are publicly available on the journal’s website in accordance with COPE Core Practices.

1. Ethical Guidelines for Authors

Authorship and Contributorship: Authorship must be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All contributors must be transparently disclosed, and the corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all listed authors approve the final manuscript. (COPE Authorship Guidance)

Funding Disclosure: All sources of funding, grants, or sponsorship must be clearly disclosed in the manuscript.

Conflicts of Interest: Authors must declare any financial or non-financial competing interests that could influence the research or its interpretation. (COPE Competing Interests)

Originality and Plagiarism: Manuscripts must be original works and not previously published or under review elsewhere. Proper citation is mandatory, and all submissions are screened for plagiarism (similarity threshold < 20%).

Ethical Oversight: Research involving human participants or animals must have received appropriate ethical approval (IRB/Ethics Committee) and informed consent, where applicable. (COPE Ethical Oversight)

Data Sharing and Reproducibility: Authors are encouraged to share underlying data responsibly and ensure reproducibility of research findings. (COPE Data Guidance)

Multiple or Redundant Publication: Submission of the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously is prohibited.

Fundamental Errors: Authors must promptly notify the editor if significant errors are identified after publication.

2. Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers

Confidentiality: Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.

Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively, constructively, and without personal bias.

Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest and decline review if necessary. (COPE Guidance)

Review Process: IHC applies a double-blind peer-review process. Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent reviewers, with a third reviewer appointed if needed.

3. Ethical Guidelines for Editors and Publishers

Editorial Independence: Editorial decisions are made solely on academic merit, without influence from commercial or personal interests.

Handling Allegations of Misconduct: Editors follow COPE procedures when dealing with suspected research or publication misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, or unethical research practices. (COPE Misconduct Guidance)

Complaints and Appeals: Complaints and appeals regarding editorial decisions or ethical concerns are handled transparently and confidentially. (COPE Appeals Guidance)

Intellectual Property: Authors retain copyright of their work. Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. (COPE Intellectual Property)

Fair Play: Editors evaluate manuscripts without discrimination based on gender, race, religion, or political philosophy.

4. Copy Editor and Layout Editor Roles

Copy Editor: Responsible for grammar, clarity, reference accuracy, and compliance with journal style.

Layout Editor: Ensures consistency in formatting, layout, figures, and tables prior to publication.

5. Post-Publication Ethics

Post-publication Discussion: IHC welcomes scholarly discussion through letters, comments, and responses. (COPE Post-publication)

Corrections and Retractions: Corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern are issued when necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record. (COPE Retractions Guidance)

6. Contact Information

All ethical concerns, complaints, or appeals should be addressed to:
Email: [email protected]