Article Processing Charge
There is no fast-track option for the article publication. However, the accelerated editorial and peer review processes may take at least two months to accept and publish an article. Acceptance of an article is based on editorial considerations, an independent peer review, and ensuring that the highest standards are maintained. As an Open Access Journal, JHSMS has a policy for the Article Processing Charge (APC) as follows:
1. Pre-Acceptance Stage (Pre-Publication Stage)
After submitting the manuscript, the editorial process involves a desk review and peer review. The pre-acceptance fee includes a 10,000 PKR submission and processing fee after the desk review.
2. Post-Acceptance Stage (Publication Stage)
The post-acceptance production process includes copy-editing, language editing, reference setting, proofreading, layouts, indexing, archiving, etc. The post-acceptance fee consists of an editing and publication fee of 20,000 PKR after the acceptance.
3. Fee Waiver, Discounts and Total APC
The post-acceptance fee is subject to a discount if any one of the authors (including students) or the manuscript qualifies the following criteria:
3.1. Foreign author from the UN list of least developed countries (50%); so 10k submission and 10k publication fee; total APC@20,000
3.2. Foreign author or Pakistani author affiliated with a foreign university/institute (40%); so 10k submission and 12k publication fee; total APC@22,000
3.3. International topic or comparative study of Pakistan with other countries (30%); so 10k submission and 14k publication fee; total APC@24,000
3.4. Local author who is special person/differently-abled person (20%); so 10k submission and 16k publication fee; total APC@26,000
3.5. Local author affiliated with QS World Ranking Pakistani university (10%); so 10k submission and 18k publication fee; total APC@28,000
3.6. Author(s) not eligible for any of the above discount; so 10k submission and 20k publication fee; total APC@30,000
4. Fee Return (upon withdrawal and decline)
The APC is accepted only through the banking channels. If the manuscript is declined at any stage of the editorial process, ninety-five percent (95%) of the submission and processing fee is returned to the author(s). However, if the author(s) withdraw the manuscript, the journal reserves the right to charge a partial submission and processing fee on a case-to-case basis.
There is no fee for the production and publication services if the manuscript is rejected at any stage of the editorial process. However, due to the costs incurred, the journal reserves the right to a partial charge/fee if the author withdraws the manuscript (with a valid reason only).
5. Article Processing Charge Explained
We are committed to making the costs of publishing as clear as possible. The article processing charge covers the costs of turning a manuscript into a finished article and hosting, distributing, and promoting an article.
When a manuscript is submitted, it passes through the many different departments at JHSMS to ensure the quality checks, peer review, production and promotion of articles are carried out in a timely manner and to a high standard:
- The editorial screening team performs initial technical and ethical checks.
- The editorial team helps the journal's Academic Editors manage the review process.
- The production team converts the manuscript to a professionally typeset article.
- The proofing team coordinates the proofing process.
- The editorial quality Assurance team performs a final check to ensure that the manuscript and its review process adhere to the journal's guidelines and policies.
- The marketing and communication team ensures that the article receives the attention it deserves.
- The technology team builds and maintains the systems and develops new systems.
The work these teams do contributes to the requirement of an APC, so the actual amount payable may vary with time according to the publisher's policy.
[Last updated: October 26, 2024]