Despite Pressure to Cancel Accreditation... UIPA Responds 'Negatively' to Ministry of Education's Recommendation

"Pre-Review of Regulations and Standards Will Lower the Quality of Medical Education"

The Ministry of Education's recommendation to diversify the composition of the board of directors of the Korea Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation (KIMEE), which is composed solely of doctors, and to include public interest representatives has been met with predominantly negative reactions within the KIMEE board. Previously, the Ministry of Education mentioned that failure to comply with the recommendation could lead to the cancellation of KIMEE's accreditation status, but KIMEE has expressed its intention to seek a direction to improve the quality of medical education through dialogue with the Ministry.

[Image source=Screenshot from the Korea Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation website]

On the 25th, KIMEE held a regular board meeting at a hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, and discussed the Ministry of Education's recommendation, KIMEE announced on the 29th. Chairman An Deok-seon of KIMEE said, "There was a sentiment within the board that it was difficult to accept the Ministry of Education's recommendations," adding, "The consensus among the board is that the government's recommendations would lower the quality of medical school education."

Chairman An continued, "It is right for the Ministry of Education to strive for good education. However, pre-reviewing regulations and standards to make accreditation evaluations easier to pass would lower the quality of medical education," and added, "I do not understand the basis for claiming that the quality will not decline while making arguments that lower the quality of medical education."

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Education recommended that KIMEE receive prior review from the Ministry when changing the composition of the board or modifying evaluation standards, methods, and procedures. The recommendation mainly includes reducing the number of medical professionals on the KIMEE board, increasing the proportion of consumer groups such as patient organizations or public interest representatives, and strengthening diversity in the composition of the Accreditation Judgment Committee within KIMEE, which directly conducts evaluations.

Chairman An expressed concern that the recommendation to change the board composition would undermine KIMEE's independence. He explained, "Compared to foreign countries, there are already many public interest organization directors on the board," adding, "Among the 22 board members, three are public interest representatives from the media and education sectors, and one is an ex officio director from the Ministry of Health and Welfare." He also pointed out that Ministry of Education policies such as "fully recognizing private practice experience as educational research achievements when hiring medical school professors" and "flexible operation of medical school academics," which allows medical students who have not attended classes to be promoted, would lower the quality of medical education.

While the KIMEE board remains skeptical about implementing the recommendations, the Ministry of Education has stated that if KIMEE does not comply by March next year, cancellation of its accreditation status is possible. A Ministry of Education official said, "If it is judged that the corrective instructions have not been sufficiently implemented, cancellation of designation as an accreditation body is possible under the law. If implemented, continuation is possible." However, the official added that the validity of actions taken before cancellation, such as medical school accreditation, will not be lost. Even if the accreditation body is canceled, the evaluation for medical school accreditation in 2025 remains valid.

Both sides are expected to seek a consensus through dialogue rather than a head-to-head confrontation. Chairman An said, "We will find ways to move forward to improve the quality of medical education through communication with the Ministry of Education." A Ministry of Education official also stated, "It is preferable to proceed with consultations with KIMEE and conclude the matter."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.