Withdrawal Policy

  • The Bulletin of Health Services Research aims to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and transparency. This withdrawal policy outlines the procedures for authors who wish to withdraw a manuscript after submission, during peer review, or after acceptance. The policy ensures clarity and fairness in the process and establishes the responsibilities of both the authors and the editorial team.

    Manuscript Withdrawal Process

    1. Withdrawal Before Peer Review

      • Authors may request to withdraw their manuscript before it enters the peer review process.

      • The request for withdrawal must be made in writing through the journal’s submission portal or via email to the editorial office.

      • Upon receipt of the request, the editorial team will promptly acknowledge the withdrawal and ensure the manuscript is removed from the review pipeline.

      • No fees will be charged for withdrawals before peer review.

    2. Withdrawal After Peer Review Submission

      • If authors wish to withdraw their manuscript after it has been submitted for peer review but before receiving reviewer feedback, they must notify the editorial office immediately.

      • Authors should provide a valid reason for the withdrawal. The editorial team will confirm the withdrawal request and update the manuscript status.

      • A withdrawal fee may be charged if the manuscript has already undergone substantial editorial work or if the peer review process has begun.

    3. Withdrawal After Acceptance but Before Publication

      • Authors wishing to withdraw their manuscript after it has been accepted for publication but before the final version is published must submit a formal withdrawal request to the editorial office.

      • Withdrawal requests must be made promptly, and the reason for withdrawal should be clearly stated.

      • If the manuscript has already been typeset or is in the final stages of production, the author may be liable for a withdrawal fee to cover the editorial and production costs incurred.

    4. Withdrawal After Publication

      • Once a manuscript has been published online or in print, it cannot be withdrawn. However, authors may request to retract their article if errors or issues are identified post-publication.

      • A formal retraction process will be followed, and the article will be marked as retracted in the journal’s archive.

      • The retraction request must include the reason for retraction and will be subject to editorial review.

    Author Responsibilities

    1. Timely Notification

      • Authors must notify the editorial office of their intention to withdraw their manuscript as soon as possible. Delays in informing the editorial office may lead to complications in the review and publication process.

    2. Withdrawal Request Format

      • The withdrawal request must be sent by the corresponding author and should include the following:

        • Title of the manuscript

        • Manuscript ID or reference number

        • Reason for withdrawal

      • Requests for withdrawal should be made via the journal’s submission portal or email to the editorial office.

    3. Consequences of Withdrawal

      • Authors who withdraw their manuscript after submission or peer review may be subject to a withdrawal fee to cover costs associated with the editorial and review processes already completed.

      • Authors may be prohibited from submitting future manuscripts to the journal for a specified period if the withdrawal is deemed to be without sufficient cause.

    Editorial Team Responsibilities

    1. Acknowledge Withdrawal Requests

      • The editorial office will acknowledge receipt of all withdrawal requests and will update the manuscript status accordingly. Authors will be informed of the outcome of their request in a timely manner.

    2. Assess Withdrawal After Peer Review

      • If the manuscript is withdrawn after peer review, the editorial team will ensure that the reviewers are informed and that the review process is terminated without unnecessary delays.

    3. Refund Policy for Withdrawal Fees

      • If a manuscript is withdrawn at a point where production has not commenced, no withdrawal fee will be charged. However, if significant editorial or production work has been performed, a fee may be levied.

      • The editorial office will assess the costs incurred and notify the authors of the amount to be charged.

    Exceptions

    • In cases of force majeure, such as unforeseen personal circumstances or institutional requirements, the editorial team will review the withdrawal request on a case-by-case basis. Authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office as early as possible to discuss any special circumstances.