Charter of the Editorial Board of Anhui Medical Journal

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Article 1 Anhui Medical Journal is a comprehensive medical academic journal supervised by Anhui Provincial Health Commission, sponsored by Anhui Institute of Medical Information, and co-organized by the Anhui Medical Association. The Editorial Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board) is the key organizational structure through which the journal relies on experts and scholars for its operation. To better leverage the role of the Editorial Board and strengthen its team, this charter is formulated in accordance with relevant documents, including the Regulations on the Administration of Journal Publication.

Article 2 The Board serves as the academic advisory body for editorial and publishing work of Anhui Medical Journal, undertaking organization, coordination, guidance, and supervision.

Article 3 The core objective of the Board is to build Anhui Medical Journal into a high-impact comprehensive medical academic journal.

Chapter 2 Functions and Responsibilities

Article 4 To implement the state’s science and technology policies and the “Double Hundred” policy, and to comply with the regulations of national and provincial publishing and health authorities to uphold correct publishing orientation.

Article 5 To research the overall design and direction of the journal, to guide the editorial department in formulating editorial policies and publication plans that align with disciplinary developments and the readers’ needs.

Article 6 To provide advice on the journal’s column design and content; to undertake tasks such as organizing manuscripts, soliciting contributions, peer review, and journal promotion to ensure academic quality.

Article 7 To collect feedback from readers and authors and to address major issues in the journal’s development.

Article 8 To foster the growth of the editorial department and the professional development of its staff.

Article 9 To promote academic exchange and cooperation with domestic and international medical institutions to expand the journal’s influence.

Chapter 3 Organizational Principles

Article 10 The Board consists of domestic and international experts from relevant medical fields. Each term lasts 5 years, with re-appointment permitted. Adjustments will be made mid-term when necessary.

Article 11 The Board operates under the leadership of Anhui Provincial Health Commission and Anhui Institute of Medical Information. The Editorial Department of Anhui Medical Journal serves as its daily administrative office.

Article 12 The Board shall consist of one to two Chairpersons, several Vice-Chairpersons, several standing Editorial Board Members, and numerous Editorial Board Members. It shall also have one Editor-in-Chief and several Associate Editors-in-Chief. When appropriate, distinguished senior scholars with outstanding contributions to the journal may be appointed as Advisors, Honorary Chairpersons, Honorary Editors-in-Chief, or Honorary Board Members. For each new term, a list of candidates for these positions is proposed by the Editorial Department, then reviewed and approved by Anhui Institute of Medical Information, which issues the official appointment certificates.

Article 13 Duties of the Chairperson and Editor-in-Chief

1.      The Chairperson of the Board presides over Board meetings and makes final decisions on major journal matters.

2.      The Editor-in-Chief implements Board resolutions and guides daily editorial operations.

Article 14 In accordance with the criteria for Board members stipulated in this Charter (Article 17), prospective members may apply personally, subject to review and recommendation by their institution. The Editorial Department screens candidates comprehensively based on discipline, age, and geographic distribution and submits the list for official approval.

Article 15 Mid-term additions or removals of Editorial Board Members are proposed by the Editorial Department and approved by Anhui Institute of Medical Information. Changes to the positions of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editor-in-Chief require review and approval by Anhui Institute of Medical Information, followed by official appointment certificates.

Article 16 Regular Board meetings shall be held; major voting matters may be resolved via in-person meetings or written correspondence.

Chapter 4 Qualifications, Rights and Obligations of Editorial Board Members

Article 17 Qualifications for Editorial Board Members

1.      Support national party policies, maintain integrity, collaborate with peers and uphold impartiality.

2.      Hold Senior Professional Title, hold active employment status, and, in principle, can serve a full 5-year term.

3.      Conduct rigorous research, possess profound disciplinary expertise as academic leaders, and produce abundant high-quality research outputs.

4.      Maintain good physical health, be committed to the journal’s work, and undertake manuscript solicitation and review tasks, and actively participate in board meetings.

Article 18 Rights of Editorial Board Members

1.      Have their academic profiles featured prominently in the journal’s print and online platforms.

2.      Receive one complimentary electronic copy of the journal annually for supervision and feedback purposes.

3.      Obtain official qualification certificates issued by Anhui Institute of Medical Information.

4.      As first or corresponding authors, manuscripts receive priority consideration under equal standards; first authors are exempt from review fees and may receive partial or full page fee waivers based on manuscript quality.

5.      Enjoy other benefits specified by the Editorial Department.

Article 19 Obligations of Editorial Board Members

1.      Implement publishing policies and board resolutions, attend Board meetings and activities, guide editorial planning aligned with disciplinary trends and reader needs.

2.      Safeguard manuscript academic quality, complete assigned peer reviews within deadlines, deliver impartial evaluations with detailed acceptance/rejection reasoning or revision suggestions.

3.      Serve as guest editors actively to organize high-quality special issues.

4.      Promote and publicize the journal to enhance its academic influence.

5.      Submit regular feedback and constructive solutions for major journal development challenges to the Board and Editorial Department.

6.      Recommend new peer reviewers and candidate board members, cultivate young editorial and review talent within affiliated institutions.

Chapter 5 Qualifications, Rights and Obligations of Young Editorial Board Members

Article 20 Qualifications for Young Editorial Board Members

1.      Be under 45 years of age and hold a doctoral degree and a senior professional title.

2.      Have presided over at least one national-level research project in the past three years.

3.      Publish high-impact papers as first or corresponding authors in authoritative domestic and international journals.

4.      Be committed to the journal’s development, possess strong skills in writing, soliciting, reviewing, and promotion, and proactively contribute ideas for the advancement of scientific journals.

5.      Be actively engaged in frontline research, maintain a rigorous and ethical academic attitude, and have no record of academic misconduct.

Article 21 Rights of Young Editorial Board Members

1.      Appointment is for a term of three years.

2.      Enjoy all basic rights listed in Article 18 for regular Board members.

3.      To have their academic profiles publicly featured through the journal’s official channels.

4.      Outstanding members may receive re-appointment or priority nomination for full Editorial Board membership during regular board rotation.

Article 22 Duties and Obligations of Young Editorial Board Members

1.      Fulfill all core duties listed in Article 19 for regular board members.

2.      Submit at least one high-quality original manuscript as a first or corresponding author during the appointment term.

Article 23 Application Process for Young Editorial Board Members

1.      Nomination: Candidates may be nominated by existing Board members or the Editorial Department.

2.      Self-Nomination: Submit application materials, including a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a list of academic achievements, via the journal’s official website or editorial email.

3.      Application: Complete the official Young Editorial Board Member Application Form and submit it to the designated email address.

4.      Review and Approval: The Editorial Department reviews candidates based on the eligibility criteria, prioritizes applicants with relevant experience, and submits the shortlist of qualified candidates to the sponsoring institution for final approval.

Chapter 6 Exit Mechanisms

Article 24 Exit Rules for Editorial Board Members

1.      Expiration of Term: Board membership automatically terminates upon completion of the 5-year term unless re-appointed.

2.      Voluntary Resignation: Members may submit resignation applications to the editorial department due to job transfer, health issues, schedule conflicts or retirement. The editorial department verifies the application and submits it to the sponsor for approval.

3.      Dismissal for Inactivity or Violation: Members who fail to complete any solicitation or review work for two consecutive years shall have their appointment terminated. Any member confirmed of academic misconduct shall be removed from the board; violations of national laws result in immediate dismissal.

Article 25 Exit Rules for Young Editorial Board Members

1.      Term and Age Limit: Membership expires automatically after the 3-year term without re-appointment; members reaching 45 years old will not be renewed upon term completion.

2.      Resignation and Dismissal: resign by submitting a formal application; failure to fulfill core duties results in non-renewal; criminal violations trigger immediate dismissal.

Article 26 Implementation and Supervision of Exit Mechanisms

1.      Process: After receiving resignation notices or identifying misconduct/incompetence, the Editorial Department initiates the exit procedure, conduct a review or verification, and submits the outcome to the sponsoring institution for approval.

2.      Supervision and Feedback: The Editorial Department regularly evaluates board member performance and accepts feedback to continuously optimize the exit mechanism.

Chapter 7 Supplementary Provisions

Article 27 This charter shall be interpreted exclusively by the Editorial Department of Anhui Medical Journal.

Article 28 This charter takes effect upon review and approval by the Editorial Board.