Purpose
Social accountability requires medical schools to align their education,
research, and service activities with the community's health needs. Although
global models, such as the WHO framework and THEnet, have provided clear
frameworks, the extent to which Caribbean medical schools incorporate these
principles remains unclear. Given their significant contributions to the U.S.
primary care workforce and their local economic impact, this study examines
how Caribbean medical schools reflect social accountability.
Methods
A qualitative analysis was conducted using purposive sampling of twenty
accredited Caribbean offshore medical schools. Different accreditation
agencies, which are recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education
(WFME), have accredited these schools. Data from accreditation reports and
schools’ websites, including mission statements, curricula, research
activities, community services, clinical services, and local economic impact,
were analyzed using Framework Analysis.
Results
The analysis of social accountability across Caribbean medical schools
revealed substantial variation in how explicitly they incorporated the
framework of social accountability. Only three schools demonstrated a strong
commitment to social accountability, as evidenced by mission statements and
structured outreach programs. Twelve schools demonstrated partial social
accountability, which referenced community service or population-health
components within their missions or activities, but lacked comprehensive or
measurable strategies aligned with established social accountability
frameworks. The other five schools exhibited limited explicit social
accountability, with mission statements focused primarily on affordability
and accessibility rather than community impact or responsiveness to local
health needs.
Conclusion
The findings highlight a heterogeneous landscape among Caribbean medical
schools regarding social accountability. While most schools incorporated
community outreach into their activities, only a subset articulated clear
social accountability principles within their mission or operational
priorities. These findings highlight opportunities for regional alignment
with global standards, such as those promoted by the WHO, and underscore the
need for more intentional and measurable approaches to social accountability
across the region.