The Importance of Social Accountability in Medical Schools

The definition of social accountability of medical schools according to WHO is the obligation to direct their education, research, and service activities towards addressing the priority health concerns of the community, region, and/or nation they have the mandate to serve. The priority health concerns are to be identified jointly by governments, health care organizations, health professionals, and the public. The Objective of SA to Strengthen the Health System through community participation to attain access to quality health services. The vision of SA is the optimal preparation of future practitioners to respond to population needs, and The establishment and promotion of innovative practice patterns to better meet individual and community needs. The medical schools contribute to the needs of society by educating tomorrow’s doctors and doing research that makes a difference. The heart of the concept of social accountability/responsibility is that by directing medical school education, research, and service activities toward addressing the priority health concerns of their community/region, their nation, or both, medical schools can make the greatest contribution to the health and well-being of humanity.