Document Type : Perspective, opinion, and commentary
Authors
1 Associate Global Director, Middle East and North Africa, Royal College of Physicians London, United Kingdom
2 Professor Emeritus and Founding Dean, Tikrit University College of Medicine (TUCOM), Tikrit, Iraq
Abstract
The National Council for Accreditation of Medical Colleges (NCAMC) has been working on accrediting Iraqi medical schools. However, the NCAMC is not internationally recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), which is necessary to meet the requirements of the ECFMG's Recognized Accreditation Policy starting in 2024. This policy states that a medical school must have recognized accreditation from an external quality assurance organization. In the future, only medical schools accredited according to this policy will meet the ECFMG's requirements.
Medical graduates who want to work, train, register, do research, volunteer, or pursue other opportunities must apply for verification of their primary medical qualification (PMQ). Verification for international medical graduates (IMGs) in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and many other countries is done through the ECFMG's online system called Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC).
Since Iraqi medical schools do not currently meet international standards, the quality of their education is at risk, and this could affect the future of new graduates. To safeguard Iraqi medical education and the future of new doctors beyond 2024, the Ministry of Higher Education, universities, medical colleges, and the Iraqi Medical Association (IMA) should collaborate with the NCAMC to gain recognition from the WFME.
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