Consultant to support in estimating the costs and fiscal space analysis of the Jordan Priority Benefits Package in the UHC Framework

1. Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to estimate the costs and fiscal space analysis of the Jordan Priority Health Benefits Package in the Universal health coverage framework (UHC-PBP).

2. Background

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) means that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. It includes the full range of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. In this context, the development and implementation of the Priority Benefit Package (PBP) would standardize the delivery of health services funded by different providers (e.g., Ministry of Health, Royal Medical Services, University Hospitals, private providers, etc.) with efficiency and equality gains, as well as provide critical evidence for an expansion of the health coverage, which is particularly relevant given Jordan’s recent commitment to achieving UHC by 2030.

In Jordan, a two-phase mapping was performed to identify health interventions in priority regions, compare them to those indicated at the regional level, and identify additional priority interventions that should be included in PBP. By the end of 2021, a scoping mission was established to investigate stakeholders' expectations and determine the required steps to develop and implement the PBP. In March 2022, a census workshop on PBP development was achieved to agree on the next steps. Political commitments based on technical findings are currently needed to support multi-sector involvement in designing and implementing the PBP in line with Jordan's conditions. A national multi-sector advisory committee was created to complete the mapping and support the PBP design.

The One Health Tool (OHT ) was used to project resource needs and the costs of the benefits package. OHT is used globally to support medium- to long-term (3-10 years) strategic planning in the health sector and has been used to inform strategic planning processes in over 30 low and middle-income countries. It provides a unified framework to strengthen integrated planning by supporting the planning, costing, and budgeting of health sector priorities, including health system strengthening strategies. OHT costing approach could be used to cost all PBP interventions except those easy to cost using an aggregate budget line of some national programme such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, neglected tropical diseases as well as other costing studies. These results will provide an estimate of the annual investment required for delivering PBP effectively. These estimates should be used for further development of a feasible and efficient PBP and for setting the target of the coverage through public delivery channels for the next sector programme and increasing fiscal space for health. The fiscal space could be predicated on using assumptions for economic growth, government resource allocations to health, external aid for health, the magnitude of out-of-pocket expenditure, and other private health expenditures as critical factors affecting available resources devoted to health . Policy planners may consider these estimates and use them to advocate for increased funding for the health package to match the costs. As the country moves towards UHC by 2030, future analyses should look at the cost of current and projected coverage of UHC-PBP by both public, Royal Medical Services, and private sector and the cost for service delivery by the level of care (primary, secondary, and tertiary). MoH/HIA recognized that a quick and approximate OHT with support from the WHO to estimate the resource needs for the delivery of the UHC-PBP will help to plan and extend PBP coverage by sectors in a coordinated approach.

In response to a request from the MoH/HIA, World Health Organization Country Office in Jordan (JWCO) is supporting the estimation of costs and fiscal space analysis for the PBP development using OHT. Thus, the consultant will be responsible for providing the technical and operational requirements.

3. Work to be performed

Output 1: MoH/HIA staff trained on OHT (data required, costs estimation, fiscal space analysis …).

Deliverable 1.1. Organize A hands-on workshop using country data.

Output 2: MoH/HIA will have a tailored, compelling, and clear case outlining the costs of UHC-PBP interventions utilizing context-specific policy options.

Deliverable 2.1. Submit Excel sheets (extracted from OHT) to the MoH/HIA that includes the calculations using local contextual data.

Output 3: MoH/HIA will have an agreed estimation of the costs and fiscal space analysis of UHC-PBP interventions.

Deliverable 3.1 Disseminate and report results. The report on the UHC-PBP costs and fiscal space analysis should describe the methodology, data used and assumptions, financial arrangements, and steps for putting appropriate policies into practice.

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
   

Educational Qualifications:

Minimum first university degree for lower end of range, Master’s degree for mid and high end of range in public health

Experience:

5 to 10 years’ experience working in health economy and policy, health system strengthening.

Skills/Technical skills and knowledge:

Orientation of the health system in the context of Jordan would be an asset.

Familiarity with the Government systems and functions is essential.

Essential knowledge of health economics and financing.

Expertise in costing and fiscal space analysis studies along with:

• Knowledge of WHO OHT
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team
• Good writing and reporting skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations to meet tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of the Government of Jordan and UN systems and processes is an advantage.

Languages and level required:

Proficiency in English and Arabic is required.

5. Location

Amman, Jordan (on-site)

6. Planned timelines (40 working days - dates are subject to confirmation)

Start date: 18 January 2023

End date: 14 March 2023

7. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

8. Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel to Jordan.

Additional Information

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