Consultancy on Digital Health

CONSULTANCY ON DIGITAL HEALTH

Terms of reference

Purpose

The consultant will assist the WHO Country Office Maldives and Ministry of Health in strengthening the health information system in the country through facilitating adoption of Maldivian Health Information System (MLVHIS)-DHIS2 as the common platform to access and use data from multiple sources and ensuring application of appropriate data management standards and sound analytic techniques for producing accurate and reliable fit-for-purpose information for decision-making at different levels of health system.

Background

Health information systems (HIS) are pivotal in generating evidence for decision and action at all levels of the health system.  Information and communication technologies (ICT) facilitate HIS role in efficient collection, storing, processing, analysis, dissemination and use of data. Countries including Maldives have leveraged ICT for improving their data systems. The island archipelago has one of the highest internet coverages in the region and will facilitate the digital health transformation extensively.

District Health Information Software Version 2 (DHIS2) was introduced in Maldives as a national health management information system (HMIS) in 2017 as a collaborative effort between Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization. It has been envisaged that DHIS2 would assist in data management, analysis, monitoring, and evaluation of key health indicators for well informed and/or evidence-based decision making. The introduction of DHIS2 to Maldives was carried out in a phased approach. As part of phase 4 activities, since July 2019, DHIS2 has been rolled out at a national level in all public health facilities and private hospitals.

Other digital information systems have been set up to serve various purposes, such as electronic medical records, disease registries, licensing and medicine supply and distribution. Efforts are underway to develop an integrated health information system where these different systems will be linked to DHIS2 to enable secure and seamless flow of data, thereby allowing users to easily access data from multiple sources to meet their information needs.

To support sustainable development and implementation of a national integrated health information system, successful adoption of digital tools, as well as health data standards such as International Classification of Disease, 11th revision, is required at all levels. The Health information Management and Research Division with support from the ICT department, continues to address technological and data literacy challenges as well as evolving reporting requirements by DHIS2 end-users. Their work entails ensuring optimized server performance, coordinating review and improvement of HMIS form, routine HMIS-DHIS2 refresher/orientation trainings, conducting data quality reviews and promoting an information culture where health workers, program managers, department heads, directors and other staff, share, access and use data for decision-making. 

This consultancy is required to support Health information Management and Research Division, Ministry of Health  in ensuring continued commitment of stakeholders to the vision of an integrated national HMIS and increasing the levels of use of evidence for decision-making across all levels of the health system.

• To conceptualize, plan and support in conducting of an evaluation of the current electronic / digital health information system (HIS) operational in Maldives
• Conceptualization and development of a comprehensive Electronic Immunization Registry (EIR) for Routine Immunization on the DHIS 2 platform in collaboration with the MoH Maldives
• To work with HMIS staff to elicit, document and implement new or changes in reporting requirements of programs in their respective aggregate and case-based data forms within DHIS2
• To explore feasibility of existing digital health technologies for API integration into DHIS2 and developing the necessary components as required
• To facilitate capacity strengthening activities for HMIS and ICT staff for maintaining and sustaining development or enhancement of HMIS-DHIS2
• To support WCO Maldives and MoH HIMR division as well as Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Department and other health programs in monitoring the progress towards the SDGs and UHC, GPW13 and other national health goals using multiple data sources through sound data analytics approaches and production of easy-to-understand and fit-for-purpose information products.

Outputs

• Take part in Digital Health Steering Committee/digital health stakeholder meetings organized for planned digital health implementations such as hospital information systems, DHIS2 cause of death module
• Evaluation report on the existing operational electronic / digital Health information systems in Maldives
• A comprehensive Electronic Immunization Registry (EIR) for Routine Immunization built on the DHIS 2 platform
• Indicators and forms reviewed by all public health programs, and revised/new forms configured in DHIS2
• Advanced DHIS2 trainings provided/organized for ICT and HMIS staff
• Dashboards, health statistics reports/information products for HMIS, M&E and programs developed and disseminated for monthly, quarterly and six-monthly reports

Deliverable

• Monthly progress report on status, actions and next steps towards each output.

Under the technical supervision of the Medical Officer Public Health and the overall supervision of WHO Representative to Maldives, the consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Health. The Consultant will liaise with relevant technical departments in SEARO.

Language

Essential: Expert knowledge of English

Education

Essential: Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Health Science or related field in Medicine with advanced qualifications in Health Information Management, Health Statistics or Epidemiology.

Desirable:  PhD / MD in Public Health, Health Information Management, Statistics, Epidemiology or related field. Familiarity with indicators of SDG 3 and health-related SDG and UHC, GPW 13 Impact Framework and International Classification of Diseases 11 version

Experience

Essential: At least 5 years of work experience in the area of health information systems strengthening, including HIS assessment, planning, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Experience in managing web-based data collection, data analysis and visualization projects, using DHIS2 or similar platforms.

Desirable: Work experience in Maldives and/or other developing countries in the Asian Region. Experience in working with UN agencies.

Skills and competency

Essential: Trained in using DHIS2, advanced skills in data analysis.

Desirable: Familiarity of DHIS2 interoperability/ integration concepts, project management certification (TOGAF, PRINCE 2, PMP).

Male, Maldives

From 1 February to 31 July 2022

How to apply

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV and a brief cover letter to semav_vacancy@who.int by 9 January 2022.  The cover letter should briefly outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position. Only successful candidates will be contacted.