Master Service Agreement — Editorial & Academic Services

Preamble

Evidence-Based Medicine and the Role of Research

The modern foundation of health practice and education is Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM). Research is a vital component of both medical education and patient care. Clinical research, in particular, is an essential part of medical advancement. While many clinicians are engaged in research, not all studies are published, which limits their visibility and impact.

Importance of Publishing Research

Medical professionals must publish their work to ensure it is recognized and not overlooked. Clinical practice alone is not sufficient; research and its dissemination are equally important in today's era. Merely conducting research does not fulfill its purpose—publication is crucial for academic growth and for contributing to the global body of knowledge.

Significant investments of energy, manpower, time, and financial resources go into conducting studies. Without publication, valuable findings may remain hidden. Publishing research not only advances science but also brings professional recognition, credibility, and prestige.

Challenges in Preparing Scientific Papers

Not all medical professionals worldwide are experts in preparing manuscripts for publication. Many possess deep clinical knowledge, skills, and experience but may struggle to transform their work into a well-structured scientific paper. To address this, we, at Indaram Publication Support (IPS) provide guidance and support to help researchers present their findings effectively for the global scientific community.

Reputed journals have strict screening processes to decide whether a submission can proceed. Common reasons for rejection include:

• Poor manuscript organization and structure
• Inappropriate or weak study design
• Language and clarity issues

Current Issues in Publication

1. Lack of specialized skills: Many clinicians lack training in scientific writing, journal-specific formatting, and proficiency in academic English.
2. Time constraints: Busy clinical schedules often prevent professionals from dedicating enough time to preparing quality manuscripts.
3. Predatory or fake journals: Some journals are deceptive, lacking credibility and integrity. Submitting to such journals risks wasting years of effort. Awareness and identification of predatory journals are essential.

How We Help — Bridging the Gap to Publication

At Indaram Health, we support medical professionals in overcoming these challenges. Manuscripts are often rejected due to unclear flow of information, formatting errors, vague content, or language problems. Our team provides proofreading, editing, and publication support to ensure that your scientific work meets the highest standards and has the best chance of being accepted in reputable journals. Further details can be reached at www.indaramhealth.com

PART A — GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. Purpose & Scope of Services

The Company engages the Editor to provide professional editorial services for manuscripts, research articles, dissertations, and other academic/scientific documents received by the Company from clients.

This Agreement governs editorial, scientific, and publication support services provided by the Company via Indaram Publication Support (IPS) system. Services include:

(a) Editorial services (language editing, formatting, reference corrections)
(b) Scientific publication support (journal selection, submission support)
(c) Advisory and editorial services on compliance with international publication standards

Services are limited to linguistic, content and structural improvements and do not include data fabrication, ghost-writing, plagiarism, unethical practices or manipulation of research data.

2. Roles and Responsibilities

A. Responsibilities of the Company

• To assign editing tasks to the Editor based on workload and expertise.
• To provide clear guidelines, timelines, and formatting requirements for each assignment.
• To ensure fair remuneration for services rendered, as per agreed rates or payment structure.
• To maintain confidentiality of the Editor's personal information.
• To provide necessary training, feedback, and support to uphold international standards of scientific publication.
• To respect intellectual independence and discourage unethical practices such as data manipulation, plagiarism, or ghost authorship.
• To provide platforms for file exchange.

B. Responsibilities of the Editor

• To edit assigned manuscripts with accuracy, clarity, and professionalism, ensuring linguistic and structural quality.
• To follow the client's and Company's formatting guidelines, journal requirements, and timelines.
• To maintain strict confidentiality of manuscripts and related data.
• To avoid plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or any activity violating research integrity.
• To declare any conflict of interest in case of overlap with personal or professional work.
• To submit edited documents within agreed deadlines.
• To be open to feedback and revisions, if reasonably requested by the Company or client.
• Deliver high-quality and ethical editing

3. Fees, Invoicing & Payment

• Fees will be as per Annex I (Fee Schedule).
• Invoices payable within 30 days. Late payments accrue 1.5% monthly interest.
• All payments subject to applicable Nepalese taxes under the Income Tax Act 2058 (2002).

4. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to maintain confidentiality of manuscripts, client data, and all proprietary information. Obligations remain effective beyond termination of this Agreement.

5. Intellectual Property Rights

All intellectual property rights in manuscripts remain with the Client/Author. The Company and Editors shall not claim ownership. Anonymized materials may be retained for training/quality purposes with prior consent.

6. License & Third-Party Materials

The Company grants the Editor a non-transferable, limited license to use tools, templates, and systems provided by the Company solely for the purpose of executing editorial tasks under this Agreement.

If the Editor uses any third-party materials or enters into third-party agreements while performing services, the Editor shall ensure that all necessary permissions and rights have been obtained. The Company shall not be liable for any infringement arising therefrom.

7. Warranties & Liability

The Company warrants services will be provided with reasonable care and skill. No warranty is given regarding journal acceptance. The Client warrants materials submitted are original, lawful, and non-infringing. The Editor warrants accuracy, integrity, and compliance with standards.

The Company's liability is limited to the fees paid in the 12 months preceding the claim. Neither party is liable for indirect, consequential, punitive, or incidental damages. Each party indemnifies the other against third-party claims arising from breaches.

8. Termination & Objections

Either party may terminate with 30-day written notice. This Agreement becomes effective upon digital signature and remains valid until terminated. Either party may terminate with 30 days' written notice. Immediate termination may occur in cases of breach of confidentiality, payment obligations, or intellectual property rights, in accordance with the Muluki Civil Code 2074 (2017).

Objections to tasks, payments, or quality must be raised in writing within 15 days. Both parties have the right to raise objections in writing regarding the execution of this Agreement or services rendered. Such objections shall be addressed through mutual discussion and resolution.

9. Dispute Resolution & Governing Law

Any disputes arising under this Agreement shall be resolved amicably. Failing that, dispute shall be subject to the laws of Nepal and settled under the jurisdiction of Nepal.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Muluki Civil Code 2074 (2017) and other applicable laws of Nepal.

10. Force Majeure

Neither party is liable for delays caused by events beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, IT breakdowns, pandemics, strikes, epidemics, and regulatory restrictions, in line with Nepalese legal provisions.

11. Advertising & Publicity

The Company may use the Editor's professional details like name, photo, designation, experience, etc. for marketing or advertising purposes.

12. Taking Effect

This Agreement shall take effect from the date of signing by both parties and shall remain binding until duly terminated.

13. Modification of the Agreement

This Agreement may be amended only by written mutual consent of both parties. Amendments must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives. Notices may be delivered via email (with acknowledgment) or registered post, valid under the Electronic Transactions Act 2063 (2008).

This Agreement is legally binding upon signature. Modifications require written addenda signed by both parties. The Company may update procedural guidelines such as upgrades in working system, website, style manuals, formatting templates, etc. unilaterally but must notify the Editor in advance.

14. Infringement and Indemnification

The Editor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any claims of intellectual property infringement, plagiarism, or breach of confidentiality resulting from the Editor's work. The Editor indemnifies the Company against third-party claims due to plagiarism, copyright infringement, or breach of confidentiality. The Company indemnifies the Editor for claims arising from improper instructions or client misrepresentation.

15. Miscellaneous

This document constitutes the entire agreement. It is governed by the laws of Nepal. Agreement takes effect upon signature by both parties. Severability applies to invalid provisions. Neither party may assign rights without written consent. The relationship is independent contractor, not employee under the Labor Act 2074 (2017).

PART B — DATA PROTECTION & PRIVACY POLICY

1. Legal Basis of Data Processing

The Company processes personal data under the legal bases of consent, contractual necessity, and compliance with applicable Nepalese law. The Editor consents to the Company's processing and storage of personal and professional data necessary for the execution of this Agreement, subject to applicable data protection laws of Nepal.

2. Collection & Use of Personal Data

Collected data includes: identification (name, address, contact), financial (bank account, PAN/VAT), professional (CV, degrees, experience) and other information as mentioned in the registration form. Collected data shall be used solely for administrative, contractual, task allocation, communication, payments, performance monitoring, and training purposes.

3. Sharing of Data

The Company will not share the Editor's data with third parties except where legally required or with explicit consent.

4. Data Retention & Deletion

Data will be retained for the contract duration plus 5 years for legal records. Editors may request deletion post-termination except where law requires retention.

5. Data Security Measures

Both parties shall employ encryption, secure storage, password protection, and role-based access. Appropriate technical and organizational measures will be taken to protect all personal and client data handled by the Company and the Editor.

6. Rights of the Editor

The Editor has the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, and object to processing of personal data; right to withdraw consent; right to lodge complaint with the Data Authority of Nepal.

7. Accessibility & Amendment

This Privacy Policy shall be made available to the Editor in written form and published on the Company's official platform. The Company reserves the right to amend the Privacy Policy. Any amendments shall be communicated to the Editor in writing.

8. Data Protection & Privacy

The Company and Editor shall comply with the Privacy Act 2075 (2018) of Nepal. Personal data shall be collected, processed, and stored only with consent, and not disclosed to third parties except where required by law. Electronic communications shall be recognized as valid under the Electronic Transactions Act 2063 (2008).

9. Deletion of Your Profile

Upon termination of the Agreement, the Editor may request deletion of all stored personal data, subject to legal record-keeping requirements.

10. No Right to Visit the Sites and Modification of the Sites

The Editor does not hold any right to access, modify, or interfere with the Company's digital platforms, websites, or client data systems without written approval.

PART C: IPS Editorial Guidelines

Acknowledgment of Contribution

Thank you for your valuable contribution in making the Indaram Publication Support (IPS) System a trusted and effective platform for researchers. We truly appreciate the time, effort, and dedication you invest in this important process.

IPS Editorial Credit

The IPS System maintains records of your commitments and timely delivery of polished article. These records help track performance and will serve as the basis for awards and future recognition.

Commitment to Ethical Standards

Editors are expected to adhere to the highest standards of publication ethics, in line with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) guidelines.

Fairness and Confidentiality

Editors must handle manuscripts impartially and maintain strict confidentiality. Any competing interests must be clearly declared.

Reporting Misconduct

If you identify potential research or publication misconduct, please report it promptly to the Managing Editor of IPS.

Appropriate Communication

Editors should not rely solely on blogs, social media, or third-party platforms to raise concerns. Any ethical or procedural concerns must be communicated directly to the Managing Editor.

Responsible Use of Information

Editors must not misuse or personally benefit from any unpublished material or privileged information obtained during the editorial process.

Confidentiality Breaches

IPS takes breaches of confidentiality seriously. Allegations of misconduct will be investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Risk Awareness

Editors are expected to exercise judgment regarding potential risks and should notify the Managing Editor if any issues arise.

Re-Review of Manuscripts

Editors may be invited to review revised manuscripts and authors' responses to reviewer comments. We encourage you to remain available for such follow-ups. Multiple communications with authors may be necessary, and all correspondence must be conducted exclusively through authentic IPS email.

Final Submission

Final editorial work must be submitted online via the Indaram Publication Support (IPS) system at: https://ips.indaramhealth.com

PART D — ANNEXES

Annex I — Fee Schedule

Payments shall be made in NPR as per the project fee and subject to applicable tax deductions under Nepalese law. All payments subject to Nepalese taxation laws and TDS as per the Income Tax Act 2058 (2002). Delayed payments accrue interest at agreed rates after grace period.

Annex II — Workflow & Service Levels

• Assignment: Company assigns manuscripts with instructions.
• Acknowledgement: Editor confirms receipt within 24 hours.
• Editing: Editor uses track changes or approved system.
• Submission: Editor submits completed work by deadline.
• Review: Company reviews and may request up to two revisions.
• Acceptance: Upon acceptance, payment is processed.

Annex III — Confidentiality Undertaking

The Editor agrees to:

1. Maintain absolute confidentiality of manuscripts and client communications.
2. Not disclose, reproduce, or use materials for personal gain.
3. Securely store and delete all project files upon completion, unless legally required otherwise.
4. Acknowledge breach of confidentiality may result in termination and legal action under Nepalese law.

Annex IV — Data Protection & Privacy Notice

The Company collects necessary data as per its protocol while doing registration in online system like name, contact number, banking details, CV, etc. Data is processed solely for administrative and contractual purposes, in compliance with the Privacy Act 2075 (2018). Retention period: contract duration + 5 years. Editors may request access, correction, or deletion of their data. Electronic communications and records are valid under the Electronic Transactions Act 2063 (2008).

Annex V — Definitions

• Personal Data: Information relating to an identifiable person.
• Processing: Collection, storage, modification, transfer, deletion.
• Controller: The Company determining purposes of processing.
• Processor: Third party processing data on behalf of the Company.
• Consent: Freely given, informed agreement.
• Cross-border Processing: Transfer of data outside Nepal.