The Public Health Journal is fully committed to maintaining the integrity and authenticity of every scholarly work it publishes. Therefore, our Article Withdrawal policy is applied very strictly and is only considered in exceptional cases. Article withdrawal typically occurs if serious underlying errors are found in the publication, such as manipulated or falsified data, proven plagiarism, duplicate publication, or significant breaches of research ethics. Withdrawal requests by authors after a manuscript has been accepted or published must be accompanied by clear reasons and agreed upon by all involved authors. The Public Health Journal does not support article withdrawal without strong ethical or scientific justifications.
It's important to remember that article withdrawal is a serious action that can potentially harm the integrity of the scholarly record. Once an article is published online, it becomes a permanent part of the academic literature. Therefore, if an article must be withdrawn, the Public Health Journal will publish an official Withdrawal Notice that is clearly linked to the original article. The original article may remain available in PDF format, but it will be distinctly marked with a "Withdrawn" watermark or an explicit note indicating that the article has been withdrawn. This aims to ensure full transparency and prevent confusion or the use of invalid data by others in the future.
The Public Health Journal strongly encourages authors to thoroughly ensure the accuracy and originality of their manuscripts before submission and during the proofreading process. A withdrawal fee may apply in some cases, especially if the withdrawal is requested after the manuscript has passed the final production stage or has been published online, to cover operational costs incurred by the journal. This policy is an integral part of the Public Health Journal's commitment to upholding publication ethics, protecting the reputation of both the journal and its authors, and ensuring trust in the study of public health. The final decision regarding article withdrawal rests with the editor, who will act in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
