International Consultant – Health Information Systems

BACKGROUND

The health management information system (HMIS) is a pivotal element of the health system in Lao PDR which provides evidence for policy decisions. The integrated HMIS on the DHIS2 platform has been the backbone of the health information systems of Lao PDR and more recently, WHO provided technical support in integrating the COVID-19 Vaccination Registry within this platform. This new system on a DHIS2 Tracker instance requires further functions integrated including pre-registration and vaccination scheduling, automatic generation of vaccination certificates and capturing vaccine self-reported health status following COVID-19 vaccination.

Another key area supported by WHO is the collection of geospatial data required for microplanning of immunization activities and inventories of immunization resources need to be captured in districts.

Furthermore, following the digital health convergence workshop in Lao PDR in March 2021, one of the areas that was identified to be prioritised was the development of standard registries such as the health provider registry, client registry and health services registry. WHO is committed in supporting the development of some of these registries and developing SOPs for its maintenance by the relevant Departments/units within the Ministry of Health.

In addition, the Ministry of Health with support from ADB and WHO is also in the process of designing and developing Hospital Information Systems. This consultancy would also support in reviewing current processes and designing and developing systems.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The consultant will assist the Ministry of Health in further strengthening DHIS2-based COVID-19 Vaccination Registry (CVR) for COVID-19 with further customization to include vaccination scheduling, automatic generation of vaccination certificates and integrating feedback from those vaccinated on AEFI. This will also generate adequate evidence and serve as proof of concept to pilot Electronic Immunization Registry for routine immunization in selected geographical jurisdictions.

The consultant will also provide technical support in capturing and processing geographically referenced health facility and catchment village information and support the development of catchment population maps for microplanning.

Additionally, the consultant will also support the efforts in developing standardized registries/common services in developing the shared services layer in the exchange architecture for digital health. This includes strengthening Ministry of Health staff capacity to maintain and update the standard Health Facility Master List (HFML) and Village Master List in synchronisation with HMIS and other DHIS2 instances.

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Output 1: Support in customising and implementing the DHIS2-based COVID-19 Vaccination Registry (CVR) for the national COVID-19 vaccination;

• • Deliverable 1.1: Review current client registration processes and develop a system to register and schedule appointments for COVID-19 vaccine ensuring registration information is integrated with DHIS2
• • Deliverable 1.2: Design and support the development of an automatically generated COVID-19 vaccine certificate with QR codes
• • Deliverable 1.3: Design and support the development of a client reporting form of health status following vaccination which it integrated with DHIS2

Output 2: Support the capture and processing of geographically reference health facility and catchment village data along with other immunization related inventory data;

• • Deliverable 2.1: Support capturing of all coordinates of health facilities, villages for which coordinates are not available and other location-based inventories ass required by the immunization programme
• • Deliverable 2.2: Facilitate the production of catchment maps for all health facilities in the country

Output 3: Provide technical support to the Ministry of Health for the development of standard registries and the design of hospital information systems;

• • Deliverable 3.1: Support the development and adoption of standard facility, client and other registries with SOPs on maintenance of these registries
• • Deliverable 3.2: Support the design of hospital information systems blueprint to be developed with the support of WHO and ADB

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential: A first level university degree in one of the fields of information technology, information systems, economics, management or political sciences from a recognized tertiary institution

Desirable: Post-graduate qualification in any of the aforementioned areas

EXPERIENCE

The candidate should have at least 2 years' experience working in the field of developing and rolling out information systems in health.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Experience in managing and coordinating health information system projects within a public health context especially DHIS2 development as well as data analysis and report writing

LANGUAGES

High level of proficiency in spoken and written English is essential, basic understanding of Lao is desirable.

COMPETENCIES

• • Producing results
• • Technical expertise
• • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• • Communication

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• • The consultant will be based in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR with potentially having to undertake duty travel to provinces
• • Duration of contract is from 1 June 2021 to 30 April 2022 (10 months)

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit CV to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 21 April 2021.

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 125363 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.