Peer Review Policy

Overview

AIJCTH is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence, transparency, and editorial integrity. All manuscripts undergo a blind peer review to ensure originality, methodological rigor, theoretical contribution, and ethical compliance across the fields of health and life sciences.

Review Model: Blind Peer Review from 4 Experts in the same Field

(2 Internal & 2 External)

To ensure objectivity and impartiality:

  • Author Anonymity: Reviewers are not informed of the author(s)’ identity.

  • Reviewer Anonymity: Authors are not informed of the reviewers’ identities.

This model guarantees that manuscripts are evaluated solely on their scholarly merit, free from institutional or personal bias.

Peer Review Workflow

1. Submission & Initial Editorial Screening

All manuscripts must be submitted via the AIJCTH online submission portal.
The editorial office conducts a preliminary check to assess:

  • Alignment with the journal’s scope and aims

  • Formatting compliance and guideline adherence

  • Ethical documentation (e.g., IRB approval, consent forms)

  • Plagiarism screening using Turnitin or equivalent tools

Submissions failing to meet basic standards may be desk-rejected without external review.

2. Reviewer Selection and Assignment

Each eligible manuscript is assigned to at least two independent reviewers with demonstrated subject expertise.

Reviewer Selection Criteria:

  • Subject-matter expertise

  • Prior publication record

  • No conflicts of interest with authors or content

3. Review Process

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on:

  • Originality and contribution to the field

  • Methodological soundness

  • Relevance to theory and/or practice

  • Depth and accuracy of analysis

  • Organization, clarity, and scholarly presentation

Reviewer Recommendations may include:

  • ✅ Accept as is

  • ✏️ Minor revisions

  • Major revisions (revise and resubmit)

  • ❌ Reject

4. Editorial Decision and Feedback

The assigned Editor consolidates all reviewer reports and makes the final decision. A detailed decision letter, including anonymous reviewer feedback, is sent to the corresponding author.

Review Timeline: Typically 4–6 weeks, subject to reviewer availability and manuscript complexity.
Revision Timeline: Authors must resubmit within the given deadline to avoid delays.

⚖️ Reviewer Ethics and Responsibilities

✅ Selection & Integrity

Reviewers are selected for their academic competence, neutrality, and commitment to editorial ethics. AIJCTH emphasizes global diversity and disciplinary balance in reviewer assignments.

Confidentiality

Reviewers must:

  • Treat all manuscript content as confidential

  • Refrain from sharing, discussing, or using unpublished data

  • Use secure systems to store manuscript files

⚖️ Ethical Conduct

Reviewers must:

  • Provide constructive, evidence-based, and respectful feedback

  • Declare any conflicts of interest

  • Avoid discriminatory, biased, or inappropriate comments

Appeals Policy

Authors may file a formal appeal in the event of:

  • Factual misinterpretation of findings

  • Reviewer/editorial bias

  • Procedural or ethical irregularities

All appeals are reviewed by the Editorial Board or an independent academic, and decisions are final.

Ethical Standards

AIJCTH adheres to the guidelines of:

  • COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)

  • Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan

All stakeholders in the peer review process must uphold these standards of integrity and professionalism.

Reviewer Recognition

To honor peer reviewers:

  • AIJCTH publishes an annual list of reviewers (with consent)

  • Certificates of Appreciation are available upon request

  • High-performing reviewers may be considered for editorial roles

✅ Conclusion

The peer review process at AIJCTH serves as the cornerstone of editorial quality. By ensuring rigorous, unbiased, and constructive evaluations, AIJCTH aims to advance impactful research in the global management community while maintaining academic trust and transparency.