Biomedical Engineer (International Consultant)

1.Purpose of consultancy

To support Ministry of Health & Population (MoHP) to strengthen the case management of severe and critical COVID-19 cases requiring respiratory support with supplemental oxygen, and to develop a robust health system related to medical grade oxygen supply and demand to be delivered through essential live saving medical equipment’s in country.

2. Background

The WHO Country Office (WCO) for Nepal is supporting the government and partners with rapid scale-up of oxygen and respiratory support capacity. The incumbent under the overall guidance of the WHO Representative and the Incident Manager (IM) / Team Lead – WHE and day to day supervision of the Pillar Leads – Technical Expertise & Training (TET) and Operations Support & Logistics, will provide technical support in the procurement, installation and maintenance of medical equipment supplied to various healthcare facilities by WHO, MoHP and partners, training medical and other technical personnel, and providing technical advice on the correct use of medical equipment at the request of MoHP / partners in coordination with, supporting and mentoring the Health Emergency Support Officer

The Bio Med Engineer under the TET pillar of the WCO-Nepal COVID-19 Response IMS. Priority for supporting the MoHP to develop a technical support team for the establishment, management, and maintenance of medical oxygen delivery plants, and other medical equipment needed at High Dependency Units and ICUs for COVID-19 critical care working with MoHP / partners’ oxygen and medical equipment teams, with TET, OSL and other relevant WCO IMS pillars; and the WCO Health Systems team; and the relevant focal points at the WHO South East Asia Regional Office and Headquarters.

3. Deliverables

• A national capacity support team is established which provides technical assistance, guidance, and support to MoHP for assessing and monitoring supply and demand for medical grade oxygen based on epidemiological modelling developed to the local context

Activity 1.1 Support MoHP to select and capacity build a support team from public private partners

Activity 1.2; Support team established, trained and monitoring framework of oxygen supply, demand and delivery is developed

Expected by: 30 March 2022

• Spare part requirements for life saving biomedical equipment (PSA plant, LO tanks, ventilators, CPaP machines) that can be sourced in country and in the region is understood, recorded, and documented:

Activity 2.1: Mapping of biomedical manufacturers and dealers at national and regional level

Activity 2.2: Development of national and regional database of suppliers

Activity 2.3: Contingency plan is developed with triggers at the central and provincial level

Expected by: 30 March 2022

• Health systems related to live saving biomedical equipment’s and oxygen supply in country is strengthened:

Activity 3.1: Develop standard guidelines on calibration of biomedical equipment based on local context

Activity 3.2: Develop routine maintenance protocols/ checklists for PSA and LO storage tanks and other biomedical equipment- also addressing long term sustainability of ‘idle’ plants

Activity 3.3: Develop comprehensive SOPs for efficient operation, long term usability of PSA plants, LO storage tanks and cleaning and maintenance of oxygen cylinders (relevant to multiple manufacturers specification in country)

Activity 3.4: Design and develop the national digital inventory of biomedical equipment with sustainable nomenclature

Activity 3.5: Technical support for a) the tender process (technical guidance in preparing tender documents) when needed by MoHP/WCO b) installation of medical equipment c) Repair & maintenance of medical equipment

Expected by: 30 March 2022

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• University degree in Bio-Medical Engineering or a University Degree in other fields of Engineering with a postgraduate diploma or degree in Bio-Medical Engineering or another relevant subject; or its equivalent from a recognized University / Institution

Experience

Essential:

• 5 years or more professional experience in preparation and/or oversight of medical equipment condition assessment and specifications for hospitals including installation, commissioning large scale maintenance networks of biomedical and hospital equipment (patient ventilators, monitors, oxygen concentrators, central oxygen supply setups, etc.).

Desirable:

• Of these 5 years, working at least 1-2 years in a developing country setting is preferred.

• Work experience in WHO, other UN or another international public health organization

Skills/Knowledge:

• Excellent skills in technical analysis, installation, and maintenance of various types of medical equipment

• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to write in a clear and concise manner and give technical advice and guidance taking into consideration the views of multiple stakeholders and partners in resource-limited contexts.

• Proven ability to promote consensus, communicate progress and results, and resolve issues in a proactive manner, while ensuring effective work practices and ethics.

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

• Excellent knowledge of both written and spoken English

5. Location

On site: UN House, Kathmandu, Nepal

6. Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel in any of the 7 provinces of Nepal from February 2022 to March 2022

7. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

a. Remuneration: USD 7,000 per month

b. Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): currency and rate as applicable to different locations in Nepal (ASD Per Diem rates)

c. Expected duration of contract: 2 months

Additional information

• 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.

• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.

• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.