ارزیابی وضعیت قطب های علوم پزشکی در ایران

Abstract: The assessment of scientific excellence is taking on increasing importance in the development of research policies. Evaluation of Medical Excellence Centers makes it possible for stakeholders to promote and establish the quality of scientific activities. Despite such importance, efficient methods to identify and evaluate the function of these scientific institutions, is not well known. Thus in 2009 the Ministry of Health and Medical Education Deputy for Medical Education ordered the design of appropriate assessment and evaluation tools. The goal of this activity was to implement an assessment system for centers of excellence and find a true understanding of their performance. The evaluation was performed using the tools and indicators based on a systematic approach for evaluating input, process and output . This present study reports the findings of this evaluation. The findings suggest that 85.7% of the institutions studied have been stationed in Tehran. From total scientific institutions assessed 66.6% had a documented strategic plan. Although the evaluation report of these strategic plans were not provided by any of excellence centers. These institutions mainly relied on government resources for their activities. Over 50% of academic institutions had no report of financing from charity organizations, NGOs, private organizations and overseas sources. In the area of capacity building the highest median score was 7.5, and related to the existence of proper structure for international scientific communication. Fifty percent of the centers had no demand oriented projects and no partnerships with other academic institutions abroad. The main output of these institutions was indexed scientific articles. No report based on the academic achievement which leads to health services in the field was provided by these institutes. Based on the finding of this evaluation center of excellences&apos scientific performance is contrary to the main mission of these centers. Predicting the future by western universities led them to realize that if they did not change their strategies their will not succeed. For developing countries such as Iran learning from this experience is an opportunity.