Refund Policy

At the Journal of Health, Medical Research and Innovations (JHMRI), we aim to provide a transparent, fair, and professional service to all authors, institutions, and readers. While we primarily operate under an open-access model, we do charge Article Processing Charges (APCs) for accepted articles to cover the costs of publication, peer review, editing, and dissemination. This Refund Policy outlines the circumstances under which a refund may be requested and the procedures for processing such requests.

1. Refund Eligibility

Refunds may be requested under the following specific conditions:

1.1. Article Processing Charges (APC) Refund for Manuscript Withdrawal:

  • Before Acceptance: If an author decides to withdraw their manuscript from JHMRI before it has been accepted for publication, they are eligible for a full refund of the APC (if already paid).

    • Condition: A manuscript must be formally withdrawn before any editorial decision (either pre-review or after review but before final acceptance).

  • After Acceptance but Before Publication: If a manuscript is withdrawn after acceptance but before it has been officially published online, the author may be eligible for a partial refund of the APC, subject to the costs already incurred during the peer review, editing, and production process. The refund amount will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

    • Condition: The author must submit the withdrawal request within 7 days of receiving the acceptance notice, and the reason for withdrawal must be valid and communicated clearly.

1.2. Article Processing Charges (APC) Refund for Editorial or Publisher Error:

  • In Case of Editorial Error: If JHMRI accepts an article, processes it for publication, and later discovers significant editorial or production errors (such as incorrect data, technical errors, or publishing mistakes), the author may request a refund.

    • Condition: The error must be substantial and verified by the editorial team, and the publication of the article must have been impacted due to this mistake.

  • Full Refund for Publisher Error: If an article is accepted, paid for, and published but is later found to have been published in error (e.g., violation of publishing standards or a breach of policy by the editorial team), the author is entitled to a full refund of the APC.

1.3. Ineligibility for Refunds:

  • Post-Publication: Once an article has been officially published in any issue of JHMRI, no refunds will be issued. This includes situations where the article is part of the online-first publication or print issue.

  • Author's Withdrawal Due to Personal or Professional Reasons: If the manuscript is withdrawn after acceptance for reasons not related to editorial error or technical issues, no refund will be provided.

2. How to Request a Refund

To request a refund, the following procedure should be followed:

  1. Submit a Refund Request: Authors must submit a formal request for a refund by contacting the editorial team via email at [insert contact email].

    • Include manuscript details (manuscript title, submission ID, and payment details).

    • Clearly state the reason for the refund request (e.g., withdrawal before acceptance, editorial error, etc.).

    • For withdrawal requests, authors should include a formal letter confirming the withdrawal of their manuscript.

  2. Refund Evaluation: Once the request is received, the editorial team will evaluate the circumstances of the withdrawal or error, including reviewing the status of the manuscript and the work already completed.

    • If applicable, a member of the editorial team will contact the author to discuss the outcome of the request.

    • Refund requests related to editorial or publisher error will be carefully reviewed by the editorial board.

  3. Refund Approval: If the refund is deemed eligible, the refund amount will be processed. Refunds will typically be processed within 30 business days of the request being approved.

  4. Payment Method for Refunds: Refunds will be issued to the original payment method used by the author or institution. If an APC payment was made by credit card, bank transfer, or other methods, the refund will be issued through the same method.

  5. Partial Refunds: If applicable, partial refunds will be calculated based on the amount of work completed on the manuscript at the time of the request. This includes editorial processing, peer review, and any technical work completed.

3. Refund Policy Exclusions

  • Bank Fees: Any transaction fees or charges incurred during the refund process (e.g., bank processing fees) will be deducted from the refunded amount.

  • Late Requests: Refund requests must be submitted within 30 days from the date the issue arises (e.g., withdrawal or editorial error). Requests made after this period may not be eligible for a refund.

  • Non-Refundable Circumstances: APCs are non-refundable once the manuscript has been published online or in a print issue, as the journal’s costs for production and distribution have already been incurred.

4. Transparency and Communication

JHMRI values transparency and aims to keep authors informed throughout the refund process. Authors can expect clear communication regarding the status of their refund request, and we are committed to resolving any issues in a timely manner. If an issue arises, authors are encouraged to contact the editorial team for further assistance.