Jurnal Sains Farmasi & Klinis (JSFK) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in the publication of scientific research. As an open-access, peer-reviewed journal, JSFK follows internationally recognized ethical guidelines to ensure integrity, fairness, and transparency in the publication process. All individuals involved in the publication process—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—are expected to adhere to the following ethical principles.

1. Authorship and Contributorship

JSFK adheres to the ICMJE guidelines for defining authorship. All listed authors must meet the following criteria:

• Substantial contributions to the conception, design, acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.
• Drafting or critically revising the manuscript for intellectual content.
• Final approval of the version to be published.
• Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work and ensuring that any questions related to accuracy or integrity are appropriately investigated.

Any contributors who do not meet the above criteria should be acknowledged, but not listed as authors. JSFK strongly discourages practices like “honorary” or “ghost” authorship. All changes in authorship (additions, deletions, or rearrangements) after manuscript submission require the written agreement of all co-authors.

2. Plagiarism and Similarity Checks

JSFK takes plagiarism seriously and conducts a thorough plagiarism check using the Turnitin software before the peer-review process. Manuscripts with a similarity score exceeding 25% will be rejected. Authors are responsible for ensuring their submissions are original and that any referenced work is properly cited. Any form of plagiarism, including text recycling (self-plagiarism), data fabrication, or falsification, will result in immediate rejection or retraction of the manuscript.

3. Data Fabrication and Falsification

Authors must ensure that all data presented in their manuscripts are accurate, reliable, and valid. Any form of data manipulation, falsification, or fabrication is considered unethical and will result in the rejection or retraction of the manuscript. Authors may be required to provide raw data for editorial review.

4. Conflict of Interest

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest (financial, professional, or personal) that could affect the objectivity or integrity of the research and its publication. This includes funding sources, relationships with pharmaceutical companies, or any other potential influences. A Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form will be required from authors, and any conflicts will be clearly stated in the published article.

Editors and reviewers must also declare conflicts of interest that may arise during the manuscript evaluation process. If a conflict of interest is identified, the editor or reviewer will be recused from handling the manuscript.

5. Ethical Oversight in Research

JSFK adheres to the WAME and ICMJE guidelines on research ethics. Authors must ensure that research involving human subjects, animals, or sensitive data complies with ethical standards, including:

• Human Subjects: All research involving human participants must have been reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethics committee. Informed consent must be obtained from all participants, and authors should state this in the manuscript.
• Animal Studies: All animal research must adhere to ethical guidelines and be approved by the relevant ethical review board. Authors should indicate that all necessary measures were taken to minimize harm and distress to the animals.
• Clinical Trials: Clinical trials must be registered in a recognized public trials registry (such as ClinicalTrials.gov), and registration numbers must be included in the manuscript.

6. Peer Review Integrity

JSFK employs a double-blind peer-review process to ensure impartiality and fairness. Reviewers must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential and should not use the information for personal advantage. The identities of authors and reviewers are kept anonymous throughout the review process.

Reviewers are required to provide objective, constructive feedback and should report any ethical concerns, including potential conflicts of interest, plagiarism, or misconduct. Editors are responsible for ensuring that the peer-review process is conducted fairly, without bias, and that decisions are based solely on the quality and relevance of the manuscript.

7. Complaints and Appeals

JSFK provides a transparent process for handling complaints and appeals. If authors believe their manuscript was unjustly rejected, they may submit an appeal to the Editor-in-Chief with a detailed explanation. Appeals will be carefully reviewed by a different set of reviewers or editors, and the final decision will be made based on the merits of the case.

Authors, readers, or reviewers can raise complaints related to the editorial process, peer review, or potential ethical violations. JSFK will follow COPE guidelines for investigating and resolving complaints. Appeals and complaints must be submitted in writing via the journal’s website, and all complaints will be handled confidentially.

8. Corrections, Retractions, and Post-Publication Discussions

JSFK has clear policies on corrections, retractions, and post-publication discussions. If a significant error or ethical concern is identified after publication, JSFK will take appropriate action:

• Corrections: Minor errors that do not affect the scientific integrity of the paper will be corrected through an official corrigendum.
• Retractions: Serious ethical violations, such as data falsification or plagiarism, may result in the retraction of the article. A retraction notice will be published, and the article will remain online with a clear statement explaining the reason for the retraction.
• Post-Publication Discussions: JSFK encourages academic discussion after publication through letters to the editor. Authors are expected to respond to questions or comments regarding their published work in a timely and professional manner.

9. Handling Allegations of Misconduct

JSFK is committed to addressing any allegations of misconduct, whether they arise before or after publication. Allegations, including plagiarism, data falsification, or unethical behavior, will be investigated following COPE’s Core Practices. If necessary, the investigation may involve the author’s institution or funding body. If misconduct is confirmed, the manuscript may be rejected, or if already published, it will be retracted.

10. Copyright and Licensing

Authors retain copyright over their work but grant JSFK the right to publish and disseminate their articles. All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0), which allows others to share and adapt the work for any purpose, including commercially, as long as the original author is properly credited, and the resulting work is licensed under identical terms.

11. Advertising and Revenue Sources

JSFK is committed to transparency in its business practices. Any advertisements or sponsorships will be clearly distinguishable from editorial content and will not influence editorial decisions. The journal’s primary sources of revenue include institutional support, publication fees (if applicable), and advertising, which will be disclosed transparently.