Introduction:

Marked by rapid expansion, growth in supply by the private sector and the performance of different groups of influence, medical education is at the centre of debates on the quality of higher education. The creation and performance of medical course accreditation agencies is growing around the world, having arrived in Brazil with the creation of the Medical School Accreditation System (SAEME) on the initiative of the Federal Council of Medicine. An important milestone in Brazilian medical education, the creation of the system represents progress and should be considered. However, this fact does not invalidate the possibility and importance of implementing a national public policy for the accreditation of medical courses, given the social relevance and concern with the quality of medical training offered in the country.

Method:

Based on a document analysis, in which articles on accreditation and quality of medical education were analysed, as well as the guiding documents of international accreditation agencies, this article presents a parallel and draws similarities between the procedures adopted by international accreditation agencies, by the SAEME and the procedures of the National Higher Education Assessment System.

Results:

The document analysis pointed to similarities in the procedures adopted internationally compared to national initiatives with regard to the basic assessment structure, the requirement for self-assessment, the concern regarding assessment of the learning, the provision for monitoring and prior alignment, as well as valuing the competency-based curriculum.

Considerations:

The results point to a favourable scenario with a view to demonstrating the national potential for setting up a public accreditation system.

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