VIHRI - Policies and Procedures

Policies and Procedures

1.	VALUE IN HEALTH REGIONAL ISSUES
	1.1	General
		1.1.1	Value in Health Regional Issues an independent journal (unique ISSN), is an official scientific journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) to encourage and enhance the science of pharmacoeconomic / health economic and outcomes research and its use in health care decisions in Asia, Latin America, and other regions in the world where the development and use of this science is emerging.
		1.1.2	Value in Health Regional Issues is owned by ISPOR and is related to Value in Health only in cover design and contents. The scope and mission of Value in Health Regional Issues (VIHRI) is consistent with the mission and scope of the Society.
		1.1.3	VIHRI is published at least twice a year with one issue focusing on the Asian region and one issue on the Latin American region. Additional issues focusing on other regions of the world, where the development and use of this science is emerging, may be developed.
		1.1.4	VIHRI articles may be published in the language of the region (i.e. Spanish and Portuguese for Latin America; Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, Hindi, Urdu, etc. for Asia). All research articles accepted by the VIHRI must have an abstract and keywords in English, as well as in the language of the article (if not English).
		1.1.5	VIHRI includes articles on health care policy analysis, outcomes research (clinical, economic, and patient-reported) empirical studies, methodological studies, and articles on health care resources in the region.
		1.1.6	The first author of all articles must reside in a country in the region. Empirical study articles must include subjects from population(s) in the region.
		1.1.7	VIHRI articles at the publisher's website (Elsevier) are freely accessible after 12 months have elapsed from date of publication. All VIHRI articles (full text) are posted at the ISPOR website freely accessible from date of publication.
		1.1.8	VIHRI is managed by the VIHRI Editorial Board consisting of the VIHRI Co-Editors-in-Chief and the Co-Editors. The Co-Editors-in-Chief are the Co-Chairs of the Editorial Board.

	1.2	Value in Health Regional Issues Co-Editors-in-Chief
		1.2.1	VIHRI Co-Editors-in-Chief Selection Criteria, Process and Benefits
			1.2.1.1	To assure both breadth and depth in the key disciplines published in VIHRI and to assure a regional perspective, VIHRI has two Co-Editors-in-Chief, one from Asia and one from Latin America.
			1.2.1.2	The ISPOR Asia Consortium Executive Committee may recommend candidates for the position of Co-Editor-in-Chief (CoEiC) from Asia. The ISPOR Latin America Consortium Executive Committee may recommend candidates for the position of CoEiC from Latin America. The CoEiC must be residing in a country in the representing region and must be a member of ISPOR. A person employed by a pharmaceutical or medical device/diagnostics company cannot be considered for the position of CoEiC. The Co-Editors-in-Chief are approved by the ISPOR Board of Directors.
			1.2.1.3	The CoEiC must be well published, have excellent knowledge of pharmacoeconomic and outcomes research methodology and be knowledgeable of the health care issues in the region. The CoEiC from Asia must be fluent (both spoken and written) in English and at least one of the languages officially used in Asia. The CoEiC from Latin America must be fluent (both spoken and written) in English and at least one of the languages officially used in Latin America.
			1.2.1.4	The CoEiC from Asia becomes a member of the ISPOR Asia Consortium Executive Committee, but cannot be the Chair of the Executive Committee. The term of membership on the Executive Committee is same as the term of the Co-Editor-in-Chief. The CoEiC from Latin America becomes a member of the ISPOR Latin America Consortium Executive Committee, but cannot be the Chair of the Executive Committee. The term of membership on the Executive Committee is same as the term of the CoEiC.
			1.2.1.5	A CoEiC cannot be a current member of the ISPOR Board of Directors.
			1.2.1.6	The position of VIHRI CoEiC is a contracted three year position. The contract for professional services for this position is subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The contract includes roles and responsibilities as outlined below and an honorarium or institutional salary support of US$8,000 for each CoEiC annually.
			1.2.1.7	Toward the end of each Value in Health Regional Issues CoEiC Contract term, there is an open solicitation for Value in Health Regional Issues CoEiC candidates, with the understanding that an incumbent CoEiC can respond to the solicitation, if interested. Each CoEiC can serve no more than two terms (consecutive or non-consecutive).
			1.2.1.8	The CoEiC are invited to the ISPOR Board of Directors meetings, as a guest, when issues of the Value in Health Regional Issues are discussed.
			1.2.1.9	Each CoEiC is reimbursed for travel and lodging expenses (up to three nights) to the ISPOR Annual Meeting and Asia-Pacific Conference or Latin America Conference according to the ISPOR reimbursement policy, and receives a complimentary meeting /conference & social event registration to the ISPOR Annual Meeting and Asia-Pacific Conference or Latin America Conference.
			1.2.1.10	The CoEiC serve at the pleasure of the ISPOR Board of Directors.

		1.2.2	VIHRI Co-Editors-in-Chief Roles & Responsibilities
			1.2.2.1	The CoEiC establish the VIHRI policies and procedures, which are reviewed by the Executive Committee of the ISPOR Asia Consortium and the ISPOR Latin America Consortium and VIHRI Management Advisory Board and approved by the ISPOR Board of Directors.
			1.2.2.2	The CoEiC, in addition to being responsible for the contents of the journal, present an annual report to the Board of Directors, copying the Executive Committees of the ISPOR Asia Consortium and the Latin America Consortium. This report contains manuscript review and acceptance statistics.
			1.2.2.3	VIHRI CoEiC have overall responsibility for maintaining and improving the quality of the journal while addressing topics of interest to the regional ISPOR membership, as well as globally.
			1.2.2.4	The position of CoEiC includes the following editorial roles and responsibilities:
				Coordinate and direct editorial activities of the VIHRI, with the objective of assuring consistency with the overall mission and the goals of the Society. Specifically, the CoEiC must ensure that VIHRI: informs and educates readers; is accurate and relevant; avoids conflicts of interest; protects and strengthens the integrity and quality of published materials; Maintain full authority over the content of the journal. Editorial decisions are based on the validity of the work and its importance to readers interested in the region. The CoEiC may seek input from a broad array of advisors such as the VIHRI Editorial Advisory Board, VIHRI Co-Editors, reviewers, readers, and VIHRI Management Advisory Board; Development, organization and planning for the content for each issue; Management of the manuscript review and selection process, including assignment of manuscripts to Co-Editors; Final approval of manuscripts assigned to the Co-Editors; Establishment of editorial policy, subject to approval by the Board of Directors; Establishment of performance goals for the Co-Editors, subject to approval by the VIHRI Management Advisory Board, and the Board of Directors; Recommend to the Board of Directors, for their approval, Co-Editors and Editorial Advisory Board members; Maintain a collegial and constructive interaction with the Value in Health Co-Editors-in-Chief; Maintain collegial and constructive interactions with VIHRI Co-Editors, the VIHRI Editorial Advisory Board, the VIHRI Management Advisory Board, ISPOR Board of Directors, and members and employees of ISPOR.
			1.2.2.5	The position of CoEiC includes the following administrative roles and responsibilities: establish and refine policies and procedures for the efficient management of editorial activities; and oversee the management of the manuscript selection process and timely review of manuscripts.
			1.2.2.6	The activities of the Co-Editors-in-Chief are monitored by VIHRI Management Advisory Board.

	1.3	Value in Health Regional Issues Co-Editors
		1.3.1	VIHRI Co-Editors Selection Criteria, Process, and Benefits
			1.3.1.1	Value in Health Regional Issues Editorial Board will have six Co-Editors, three from different countries or sub-regions in Asia and three representing from different countries or sub-regions in Latin America. Term of the Co-Editor position is three years and once renewable subject to the recommendation and approval procedure below.
			1.3.1.2	The Co-Editors representing Asia are recommended by the CoEiC from Asia, in consultation with the Chair of the ISPOR Asia Consortium Executive Committee. The Co-Editors representing Latin America are recommended by the CoEiC from Latin America, in consultation with the Chair of the ISPOR Latin America Consortium Executive Committee. The VIHRI Co-Editors are approved by the ISPOR Board of Directors.
			1.3.1.3	Among the three Co-Editors of each region, two must reside in a country in the region, and one may reside out of the region, but must be fluent in a regional language and knowledgeable of the regional culture; two must work in academia, government or academic research institutions, and one may be in the pharmaceutical/medical device/diagnostics industry or a contract research organization. All Co-Editors must be well published and a member of ISPOR.
			1.3.1.4	A Co-Editor can be a member of the ISPOR Board of Directors, but cannot be a member of the VIHRI Management Advisory Board.
			1.3.1.5	The VIHRI Co-Editors receive US$100 for each manuscript reviewed.
			1.3.1.6	The VIHRI Co-Editors serve at the pleasure of the ISPOR Board of Directors.

		1.3.2	VIHRI Co-Editors Roles and Responsibilities
			1.3.2.1	The VIHRI Co-Editors assist the Co-Editors-in-Chief with the following activities: establishing editorial policy; recommending new Co-Editors and new members to the Editorial Advisory Board; developing, organizing & planning content of each VIHRI issue.
			1.3.2.2	A VIHRI Co-Editor is responsible for the selection of manuscript reviewers, manuscript review adjudication, and manuscript acceptance decisions for manuscripts as assigned by the Co-Editors-in-Chief.
			1.3.2.3	The VIHRI Co-Editors have the following responsibilities: Reviews manuscripts; Adjudicate a minimum of 10 manuscripts each year, if requested; Each year, strive for an average time from submission to first decision of 60 days, and maintain an average time of 75 days for assigned manuscripts; Maintain all files in 'manuscript system', documenting all correspondence between journal and authors in 'manuscript system'; Participate in three VIHRI teleconferences per year by email or on the telephone and contribute to one VIHRI Co-Editors face-to-face meeting each year in person, by email, or by telephone; Contribute to VIHRI every three years as a co-author of a manuscript submitted to VIHRI, or an author of a VIHRI Editorial.
			1.3.2.1	The VIHRI Co-Editors assist the Co-Editors-in-Chief with the following activities: establishing editorial policy; recommending new Co-Editors and new members to the Editorial Advisory Board; developing, organizing & planning content of each VIHRI issue.

	1.4	Value in Health Regional Issues Editorial Advisory Board
		1.4.1	VIHRI Editorial Advisory Board Selection Criteria and Process
			1.4.1.1	VIHRI Editorial Advisory Board, scientific advisors to the CoEiC, consists of 20-30 advisors, with 10-15 each representing the Asia or the Latin America region.
			1.4.1.2	Advisors representing Asia are jointly recommended by the CoEiC from Asia and the Chair of the Asia Consortium Executive Committee. The advisors representing Latin America are jointly recommended by the CoEiC from Latin America and the Chair of the ISPOR Latin America Consortium Executive Committee. The recommendations must be approved by the ISPOR Board of Directors.
			1.4.1.3	Advisors of each region must be from a country in the region and must be fluent in a regional language and knowledgeable of the regional culture.
			1.4.1.4	Members of the VIHRI Editorial Advisory Board are selected from the roster of active reviewers or other qualified ISPOR members or ISPOR regional consortium members.
			1.4.1.5	Appointments are for three years and are once renewable, based on participation in journal activities.
			1.4.1.6	The VIHRI Editorial Advisory Board serves at the pleasure of the ISPOR Board of Directors.
		1.4.2	VIHRI Editorial Advisory Board Roles and Responsibilities
			1.4.2.1	The VIHRI Editorial Advisory Board assists the Co-Editors-in-Chief in establishing editorial policy.
			1.4.2.2	VIHRI Editorial Advisory Board members must review at least two manuscripts per year, if requested. An inactive advisor will be requested to be replaced subject to the recommendation and approval procedure above.
			1.4.2.3	VIHRI Editorial Advisory Board members must participate in Value in Health Regional Issues meetings in person, by email, or on the telephone.

	1.5	Value in Health Regional Issues Management Advisory Board
		1.5.1	The Value in Health Regional Issues Management Advisory Board is the ISPOR Publications Committee, a committee of the ISPOR Board of Directors with the purpose to monitor the management of ISPOR publications. VIHIR Management Advisory Board has oversight responsibility for the management of the VIHRI.

VIHRI Co-Editors-in-Chief Selection Criteria, Process and Benefits