Editorial responsibilities
For editors
Editors oversee fair, confidential and methodologically appropriate evaluation of manuscripts within IJGH’s population-health and health-systems scope.
Contact the editorial officeEditorial role and authority
Handling editors assess scope and basic suitability, select independent reviewers, evaluate the substance of reports and issue or recommend a reasoned decision within the authority assigned by the editorial office. A reviewer’s recommendation informs but does not determine the decision.
Acceptance is based on relevance, validity, methodological rigour, ethical compliance and clarity.
Assignment workflow
- Check the assignmentConfirm appropriate subject and methodological expertise.
- Declare conflictsDisclose interests and recuse when independence is uncertain.
- Screen the manuscriptAssess scope, completeness, ethics documentation and whether external review is justified.
- Select reviewersInvite relevant, independent reviewers without material conflicts.
- Assess the reportsEvaluate reasoning and evidence; do not count recommendations as votes.
- Record a decisionExplain the scientific and policy reasons, required changes and outcome respectfully.
- Escalate concernsRefer misconduct, authorship, data-integrity, complaint and appeal matters to the editorial office.
Assignment-specific due dates are communicated through the editorial system. Notify the editorial office promptly if an assignment cannot be completed as requested.
Independence, conflicts and recusal
Editors must not handle a manuscript when they are an author, recent collaborator, close colleague, direct competitor, supervisor or supervisee of an author, or when another financial, personal or professional interest could influence judgement.
Editorial service confers no advantage
Editorial appointment, reviewing activity, membership, sponsorship, payment or use of a publisher service confers no advantage in review or acceptance of an editor’s own work.
Selecting and overseeing reviewers
- Match expertise to the population-health question, methods and setting
- Seek independent perspectives and relevant contextual knowledge
- Avoid recent collaborators, close institutional ties and direct competitors
- Add methodological expertise when analysis requires it
- Replace abusive, discriminatory, superficial or unsupported reports
- Protect reviewer identity under the applicable review model
Confidentiality and research integrity
Manuscripts, supporting files, reports and correspondence are confidential. Do not share them outside the authorised process or use unpublished ideas, data or methods for personal benefit.
Do not upload manuscript material, reports or author information to a public or third-party generative-AI tool. AI-generated text cannot replace independent editorial assessment.
Ethics and declarations
Integrity concerns
Decision categories
Appointment and support
IJGH editorial roles are filled by invitation or after a vetted expression of interest. Assessment considers current affiliation, ORCID, curriculum vitae, relevant publication and peer-review experience, and demonstrated subject or methodological expertise. An expression of interest does not confer editor status or guarantee appointment.
Technical problems, policy questions and recusal requests should be sent to [email protected].
Need editorial guidance?
Contact the editorial office for assignment, policy, conflict or system questions.
Contact the editorial office