Refund Policy

1. Purpose of the Refund Policy: The Refund Policy of the Pakistan Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Research (PJAIMR) provides clear guidelines on the circumstances under which a refund may be issued for any fees paid for article processing, submission, or other services provided by the journal. This policy ensures transparency and fairness in handling refund requests and defines the conditions under which refunds are eligible.

2. Article Processing Charges (APC): PJAIMR may charge Article Processing Charges (APC) to authors once their manuscript is accepted for publication. These charges cover the costs of peer review, editing, typesetting, and online publication.

3. Refund Eligibility: Refunds for any fees paid to PJAIMR will be considered under the following circumstances:

  • Manuscript Withdrawal Before Peer Review: If an author withdraws their manuscript before it has entered the peer review process, a full refund of the APC will be issued, minus any administrative fees (if applicable).

  • Manuscript Withdrawal After Acceptance: If an author requests to withdraw a manuscript after it has been accepted for publication but before it is published online, the author may receive a refund of the APC, subject to a 50% deduction for costs already incurred (e.g., peer review, editorial, and administrative processes).

  • Rejection of Manuscript: If a manuscript is rejected after undergoing the peer review process but before acceptance, the author is not eligible for a refund. This is due to the costs already incurred for peer review, editorial processing, and manuscript evaluation.

  • Technical Issues in Publishing: In the event of a technical issue on the journal’s part, such as a delay or error in publication that is not caused by the author, the editorial office will review the issue and may issue a partial refund or discount on future publications.

4. No Refund Policy After Publication: Once an article has been published (online or in print), no refunds will be issued under any circumstances. This includes:

  • Manuscripts that have been accepted and published in the journal, whether the author later disagrees with the published content or wishes to withdraw the article after publication.

  • Charges for subscription-based services or printed copies of the journal that have already been delivered.

5. Special Circumstances for Refund: Refunds may be considered in exceptional circumstances, such as:

  • Duplicate Payment: If an author has accidentally made multiple payments for the same manuscript processing, a refund will be issued for the duplicate payment.

  • Payment Error: If the author has paid the incorrect amount due to an error in the payment system or invoicing, a full refund will be provided for the overpaid amount.

  • Administrative Errors: In the event that PJAIMR has made an administrative error (e.g., incorrect billing), a refund will be provided for the erroneous charge.

6. Process for Requesting a Refund: To request a refund, the corresponding author must follow these steps:

  • Submit a Request: The corresponding author must submit a written request to the editorial office at editor@pjaimr.com with details of the payment and the reason for requesting a refund. The request must include the manuscript ID, payment reference number, and any relevant documentation.

  • Review of Request: The editorial office will review the request and assess the eligibility based on the Refund Policy criteria. This process typically takes 5-7 business days.

  • Decision and Issuance of Refund: Once the refund request has been reviewed, the corresponding author will be notified of the decision. If approved, the refund will be processed within 30 business days through the same payment method used for the transaction (e.g., credit card, bank transfer, etc.).

7. Refund Exemptions: The following cases are exempt from receiving a refund:

  • Author's Failure to Respond to Reviewer Comments: If the manuscript is rejected due to the author’s failure to address reviewer comments or meet submission requirements, no refund will be issued.

  • Failure to Submit Revised Manuscript: If an author fails to submit a revised manuscript within the stipulated time frame after a revision request from the editorial office, no refund will be issued.

  • Ethical Violations: In cases of ethical violations, such as plagiarism or data falsification, the manuscript may be rejected, and no refund will be issued.

8. Currency and Transaction Fees: Refunds will be processed in the same currency as the original payment. However, any transaction fees or currency conversion charges that apply to the original payment will not be refunded. The amount refunded will be the net amount paid by the author, excluding any third-party fees.