The network - Towards Unity For Health

MEMBER AND ORGANISATIONAL NEWSTASKFORCESIntroducing the Taskforce SocialAccountability and AccreditationThe taskforce on Social Accountability andmade some progress in the interval. Re-leagues to support the development ofAccreditation (TSAA) held its formal inau-cruitment continues in the needs assess-the Patan Academy of Health Sciences, agural meeting on September 30 th , 2008 inment study and interested parties arenew distributed and community-basedconjunction with the Network: TUFH Con-encouraged to contact the Principal Inves-institution explicitly based on social ac-ference in Bogotá, Colombia.tigator (shafik.dharamsi@familymed.ubc.ca)countability principles and processes. ItBuilding upon the insights and enthusiasmto explore enrolment of their site in thehas received parliamentary approvalgained over two workshops in Ghent andstudy. A paper outlining the relationshipsand seed funding from the new Govern-Kampala, we were fortunate to have theand opportunities for bringing together ac-ment.support of the Network: TUFH Executivecreditation activities and those related to• The LCME/CACMS accreditation systemCommittee in formally establishing thesocial accountability is in the final stagesfor North American medical schoolstaskforce and developing an electronic fo-of preparation.(148) has established new standards inrum for the enthusiastic group of col-the realms of ‘service learning’ and theD E C E M B E R 2 0 0 8leagues. These colleagues met last yearand established a rough work plan to advancethe potential for accreditation systemsto reflect and enhance the principlesof The Network: TUFH and its constituentmembers.The bulk of the Bogotá Conference wasgiven over to exploring in some detail ourpotential approach to analysing and modifyingthe WFME standards. A subcommitteehas agreed to review the WFME standardsin their entirety and draft suggestedmodifications.climate of a medical school that are directexpressions of social accountabilityexpectations. The LCME has expressedan interest in working on broader issuesof SA.• Bob Woollard, Jan de Maeseneer andothers have been working in East AfricaN E W S L E T T E R N U M B E R 0 2 | V O L U M E 2 7A number of interrelated issues include:• building on World Federation for MedicalEducation (WFME) and other standardsand modifying them to moreclosely reflect social accountability;• defining the nature of the standards,evaluation of compliance and consequencesof non-compliance in the variedinternational context for accreditationsystems;• assessing the current state of affairs;• preparing of pilot initiatives for implementation;• ensuring a focus on ‘equity’ and other SAvalues in the standards and their use;• including premedical school preparationand admissions processes in the scope ofthe standards;Thereafter, this work can be taken forwardinto a number of venues where taskforcemembers are active:• Charles Boelen is working with a newnetwork of schools focused on SA. Thishas created an opportunity to discusspotential pilot institutions for the standards.• The WHO has planned a meeting inGeneva in February 2009 to launch aninitiative in Quality Assurance andAccreditation. While this does not specificallyaddress social accountability,Charles Boelen is engaged in the planningand process.• The Association of Faculties of Medicineof Canada has received federal fundingon the development of accreditation systemsacross disciplines and along thespectrum of life long learning.There are undoubtedly many additional activitiesand opportunities that can bebrought forward, and taskforce membersare encouraged to report any efforts ofwhich they are aware.It is evident that a number of internationaltrends make the existence of the TSAAvery timely. If we are fortunate enough to‘catch this wave’, we will be well positionedto make major contributions to the developmentof global medical education.We will be following up this report with the• distinguishing between ‘social respon-for the next phase of their initiative indraft standards for your review and ratifi-siveness’, ‘social responsibility’ and ‘so-social accountability and has convenedcation. In the interval, your counsel, advicecial accountability’;a planning group of academic leaders.and work are welcome as we move forward• distinguishing between ‘policing’, ‘en-• Taskforce member Moses Galukande ofinto a new world of opportunities.abling’ and ‘quality assurance’ in theUganda has been leading the develop-role of systems of accreditation.ment of an accreditation system thereRobert Woollard and Charles Boelen |based on modified WFME standards re-Chairs of the taskforce SocialThe Working Groups that were establishedflecting social accountability principles.Accountability and Accreditationin Kampala (Literature review, Survey/• An international consortium of medicalEmail: woollard@familymed.ubc.ca;Needs assessment, and White paper) haveschools is working with Nepalese col-boelen.charles@wanadoo.fr28