Consultant Essential Medicines and Technologies

Background

WHO has been entrusted with the implementation of the Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) component of the Health Sector Transformation Project (HSTP) under the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF), managed by the World Bank, which commences in July 2024. The HSTP under the MDTF has been conceived as part of the process of increasing efficiencies, reducing transactional costs and improving health system and service delivery impact within the health sector. The HSTP consists of two components: Health Service Delivery (HSD) and Health systems strengthening (HSS) that will be implemented by UNICEF and WHO respectively, while ensuring synergy and complementarity to maximize impact.

The HSS interventions were jointly developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Health in collaboration with partners and are aligned to the Health Sector Strategic Plan (2023-2027) priorities. They are structured along the following eleven program areas: Emergency Preparedness and Response; Laboratory Systems; Blood Transfusion Services; Health Information Systems; Health Financing; Leadership and Governance; Partnerships; Quality of Care; Essential Medicines; Human Resources for Health; and Disease Control.

The WHO country office is therefore embarking on implementation of the health systems strengthening component of the HSTP and requires a Essential Medicines and Technologies consultant to provide overall technical assistance and coordinate implementation of the Essential Medicines, Supplies and Technologies program area interventions.

Duties and Deliverables

Duties:

·Provide overall leadership and technical expertise to the Ministry of Health, stakeholders and collaborating national consultants on the review/update of the Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG), disseminate and orient health care workers and managers on their use to ensure rational use of medicines

oConduct national and state level consultations on the status of implementation/appropriateness of the current STG to inform its review/update.

oDraft the final updated STGs for all levels of care and facilitate dialogue with stakeholders for its validation.

oFacilitate Training of Trainers (Master Trainers) for STGs in health facilities (PHCCs, Hospitals).

·Support the review/update the Essential Medicines List (EML), disseminate and orient managers on its use to promote equitable, safe and rational medicines selection.

oLead/facilitate national and state level assessments and consultations on the status, update and review of the essential medicines list (EML)

oDraft the final updated EML for all levels of care and facilitate dialogue with stakeholders for its validation.

oFacilitate orientation of managers and pharmaceutical stakeholders on the updated EML

• Provide overall leadership and technical expertise to the Ministry of Health, stakeholders and collaborating national consultants to build the capacity of the Drug and Food Control

  ·Authority (DFCA) at National and corresponding structure at State level to provide effective regulation and quality management of the sector

  oLead/Facilitate a comprehensive assessment and benchmarking of the DFCA to determine its maturity level and identify gaps that require strengthening.

  oConduct trainings on the different core regulatory functions of the DFCA (regulation, inspection, market authorization; pharmacovigilance, etc)

  oDesign a quality management and information system for the DFCA and train National and State level staff on its use.

Deliverables:

·Deliverable 1: An inception report and detailed work plan

·Deliverable 2: Standard Treatment Guidelines document

·Deliverable 3: Standard Treatment Guidelines Trainer of Trainer’s report

·Deliverable 4: Essential Medicines List Document

·Deliverable 5: Essential Medicines List orientation of stakeholder’s report

·Deliverable 6: Drug and Food Control Authority Bench Marking Report

·Deliverable 7: Report on core regulatory functions training

·Deliverable 8: Quality Management and Information System document of the DFCA

·Deliverable 9:Final consultancy report

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications: Essential:A university degree in Pharmacy or in one of the health sciences and a master's degree in public health, pharmaceutical services or a related field on essential medicines policies and health products.

Experience: Essential:Minimum 10 years’ relevant professional work experience in the field ofpharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical policy and regulations, manufacturing standards and quality assurance and pharmaceutical management.

Desirable: Experience working in fragile State settings

Skills/Knowledge:

·Expertise of essential medicines programs and policies; procurement and supply management systems; rational medicines use; medical products regulatory systems.

·Demonstrated ability to provide sound methodological and technical advice and guidance to Ministry of Health and other stakeholders including donors

·Practical analytical skills necessary to translate data or information into concrete action

·Excellent report writing skills

·Able to work effectively in a diverse team environment.

Languages and level required.

·Expert knowledge of English

Additional Information (For HR use only):

·This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
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