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A collaborative research project on the social accountability of medical schools based on the Delphi method was conducted by an international reference group composed of 130 representatives of the main associations of medical schools and medical education organizations throughout the world, in addition to experts invited to take part in a personal capacity. The project ended with a conference held in South Africa overseen by an independent adjudicator who was not an expert in the field. The event resulted in the unanimous adoption of a document entitled ‘Global consensus on social accountability of medical schools’. The document emphases the importance of improving the capacity of medical schools to respond to the needs and challenges of health care for citizens and society in general, in line with the core values of quality, equity, relevance and effectiveness. The implications for reconsidering quality practices and for reviewing accreditation and evaluation criteria are presented.