Consultant Roster Procurement and Supply Chain (PSM) Management Heath Technologies and Pharmaceuticals

The World Health Organization (WHO) in its Regional Office for Europe (EURO) includes fifty-three member states (MS), of which twenty-seven are members of the European Union. In all Member States, Procurement and Supply Chain Management systems are under pressure to maintain delivery of essential medicines for priority medicines—including HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria—as well as emergency medicines and health products in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The WHO European Programme of Work 2020-225 “United Action for All” sets the priorities for WHO EURO, which will be delivered through collaboration between its Country Offices, member states and partners. Support will be given to member States in their efforts to ensure access for all medicines, vaccines and health products. This includes identification and support for the correction of vulnerabilities in regulation, production, procurement and supply chains, with a focus on substandard and falsified medicines and health products. Mechanisms identified include strengthening information systems, expanding voluntary intercountry collaborative platforms and supranational procurement groups and developing technical options to ensure fair pricing.

The Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals (HTP) Programme at the WHO Regional Office for Europe is building a roster of experts, at varying levels of seniority and experience to contribute to specific elements of its regional activities across number of PSM - related technical areas and issues and diseases. This is a generic description of areas of expertise developed for a roster of consultants/experts. The exact terms of the reference for the assignment/contract will be based on the actual requirements of the assignment. Experts on the roster will be invited to take on specific, clearly defined assignments in one or more of the areas listed below, in line with their specific profile and expertise.

Deliverables

Under the overall guidance of the Programme Manager, HTP and in collaboration with the technical focal points in WHO Regional Office and the Country Offices, the consultant will be expected to carry out time-limited assignments at the regional and/or country level with one or more of the following deliverables:

1. Conduct reviews of national procurement regulations and legislation in order to make recommendations to ensure countries’ access to international procurement mechanisms.
2. Conduct assessments of the PSM cycle in countries and provide recommendations to improve performance; including quantification, forecasting, budgeting and planning experts for health products.
3. Compile, analyze and interpret country-level data relating to PSM functions and make recommendations about how to strengthen the national PSM system.
4. Review national processes that are in place for the identification and management of shortages of medicines according to best practices, including WHO norms and standards.
5. Review national mechanisms that are in place for management of prices and propose options to increase efficiency.
6. Provide technical support to national counterparts to improve procurement and supply chain management operations.
7. Develop PSM training and information materials relevant for different target audiences (policy makers, procurement experts, public health pharmacists)
8. Support and facilitate the organization of in-country workshops for example to undertake procurement and supply-chain assessments.
9. Support the establishment of Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) in country.
10. Provide support on storage and distribution of health products ( Good Distribution Practices).