Universities with negative PKA evaluation will educate doctors. Ministry: "They have invested money."

As recommended by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Academy of Applied Sciences in Nowy Sącz and the ANS in Nowy Targ will each receive 30 places on medical faculties. The decision was made despite two negative evaluations by the Polish Accreditation Commission (PKA) and an earlier negative opinion before the faculties were opened.

The ministry explains its decision by "the investments made by the universities and the financial expenditures incurred." Meanwhile, as the OZZL Residents' Agreement reminds us, a negative assessment by the PKA means that a university does not meet the conditions for achieving learning outcomes, which in practice means that graduates may not gain the competencies necessary to practice medicine.

In a position paper signed by OZZL's PR vice-chairman, Wladyslaw Krajewski, the decision by Deputy Science Minister Maria Mrowczynska was described as "outrageous and disgraceful." According to the residents, the ministry is deliberately exposing patients to doctors who will not be adequately prepared professionally, and the only justification for such a step is said to be the costs incurred by universities.

The Residents' Agreement recalls that during meetings with representatives of the ministry, repeated assurances were given that universities with a negative PKA evaluation would not recruit to medical faculties. Moreover, those with a negative evaluation for the second time were to be closed. According to the residents, reality shows that these were "empty words," and the science ministry took "the side of mediocrity," sanctioning it with its own seal.

The residents are calling for the decision to still be reviewed by the new Health Minister. They express the hope that she will side with the quality of education and patient safety against the controversial recommendations of the science ministry.

Source: OZZL Residents' Agreement