Article Withdrawal Policy

Article Withdrawal Policy
Transparent and responsible withdrawal of submitted manuscripts

The Journal of Public Health and Pharmacy is committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and accountability of the scholarly publication process. Authors should submit a manuscript only after careful consideration and with the full agreement of all co-authors. Withdrawal requests must be justified, formally submitted, and approved according to the manuscript’s editorial stage.

Formal Confirmation Required

A manuscript remains active in the journal system until the editorial office issues written confirmation of withdrawal. Submission of a request alone does not constitute formal withdrawal.

Withdrawal According to Editorial Stage
1. Before Peer Review
Authors may request withdrawal before external review begins by submitting a complete written request that states the reason and confirms agreement from all authors.
2. During Review or Evaluation
Requests submitted after editorial evaluation or peer review has begun require a clear and valid justification. Withdrawal at this stage is discouraged because editorial resources and reviewer time have already been committed.
3. After Acceptance
Withdrawal after acceptance is strongly discouraged and is considered only in exceptional circumstances, including serious errors, ethical concerns, authorship disputes, or legal issues. Approval from all authors is required.
4. After Publication
A published article cannot be withdrawn as an unpublished manuscript. Concerns are handled through correction, expression of concern, or retraction procedures that preserve the scholarly record.
Production Work Already Completed
When a manuscript has entered copyediting, layout, proofreading, or production, the journal may consider the editorial and production work already completed when evaluating the withdrawal request. Approval is not automatic and depends on the circumstances and supporting evidence.
Published Articles and the Scholarly Record

Published articles remain available on the journal website except in exceptional legal, privacy, public-safety, or serious harm-related circumstances. When retraction is required, the article remains accessible with a clear and permanent retraction notice and is linked to the corresponding post-publication record.

Unethical Withdrawal

Withdrawal must not be used to circumvent ethical or editorial obligations. Unethical conduct includes:

1. Multiple Submission
Submitting the same manuscript simultaneously to another journal.
2. Duplicate Submission
Submitting substantially the same work through more than one active editorial process.
3. Avoiding Review
Withdrawing primarily to avoid responding to reviewer comments or editorial requirements.
4. Unauthorized Request
Requesting withdrawal without the knowledge or agreement of all listed authors.

Confirmed unethical withdrawal may result in notification to the authors’ institutions, restrictions on future submissions, or further action under the journal’s publication-ethics procedures.

Withdrawal Procedure

The corresponding author must submit a formal written request to the editorial office containing all of the following information:

1.
Manuscript title
2.
Manuscript identification number
3.
Names of all authors and corresponding-author details
4.
Clear reason and supporting justification for withdrawal
5.
Statement confirming that every author agrees to the withdrawal
6.
Signature or written approval from the corresponding author and, when required, all co-authors
Editorial Review and Decision

The editorial team reviews the request, verifies author agreement, assesses the stated grounds, and communicates the decision in writing. The journal may decline a request that is incomplete, unethical, unsupported, or submitted without the agreement of all authors.

Authors must wait for written confirmation from the editorial office before treating a manuscript as formally withdrawn.