Plagiarism Policy

The Journal of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy (JBCP) is committed to maintaining the highest level of academic integrity. The journal follows a strict zero-tolerance policy against all forms of plagiarism and ensures that every submitted manuscript is original, properly referenced, and ethically prepared.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the unethical use of another author’s work without proper acknowledgment. It includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying text, data, tables, figures, or images without appropriate citation.
  • Paraphrasing another author’s work without proper credit.
  • Self-plagiarism or reusing one’s previously published work without citation or justification.
  • Using ideas, concepts, or research findings from other sources as original work.
  • Submitting work authored by another individual as one’s own.

2. Plagiarism Screening Process

All submitted manuscripts are carefully screened using advanced plagiarism detection tools such as Turnitin and iThenticate.

The acceptable similarity index is below 19% (excluding references). Manuscripts exceeding this threshold may be returned for revision or rejected depending on the severity and nature of the similarity detected.

3. Editorial Actions on Plagiarism

If plagiarism is identified at any stage—submission, peer review, or post-publication—the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Immediate rejection of the manuscript
  • Request for revision in cases of minor or unintentional overlap
  • Retraction of published articles if plagiarism is confirmed post-publication
  • Notification to the author’s institution or funding agency
  • Restriction or blacklisting of authors from future submissions

4. Author Responsibilities

Authors are fully responsible for ensuring the originality and academic integrity of their work. All sources must be properly cited in accordance with the journal’s referencing style. By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm through the Author Declaration Form that their work is free from plagiarism and adheres to ethical research standards.

5. Self-Plagiarism and Duplicate Submission

JBCP discourages any form of self-plagiarism or redundant publication. Authors must avoid:

  • Reusing significant portions of their previously published work without proper citation.
  • Submitting the same manuscript simultaneously to multiple journals.

If overlap with previous work is necessary (e.g., methodology or background), it must be clearly cited and justified.

6. Ethical Compliance

This policy is aligned with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). JBCP takes all allegations of plagiarism and academic misconduct seriously and ensures a fair, transparent, and thorough investigation process.