Supply chain procurement and assessment WCO Solomon Islands

BACKGROUND

National Medical Stores (NMS)serves as the central store for the Procurement and supply of essential commodities including medicines, medical devices and pharmaceuticals for the Solomon Islands. There is a concern that sufficient supplies have been procured and are asking then why the stockouts. Furthermore, Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) is asking to what extent does the pricing of the overall essential commodities reflects best value for money.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The overall objective of this consultancy is to identify the key contributing factors to the stockouts with regards to quantification of procurement and distribution mechanisms. The work will identify:

• • Procurement price vs international reasonable standards
• • Key contributing factors and risks for the increased medicines stock-outs in the Solomon Islands
• • Potential areas of leakage along the supply chain from Point of Entry to injection and/or ingestion
• • Estimation of the degree of leakage
• • Mitigating factors that can address stockouts and leakages

Given the limited time frame for this consultancy, work will focus on the following:

• • Identify tracer drugs, vaccines and supplies that will be the core of the investigation
• • Compare procurement price with international reasonable standard pricing (including Shipping & Handling), including:
  • • Comparison to Price Information Exchange for Medical Products (PIMEDs).
• • Per tracer drug, vaccine, supply:  
  • • Total quantity procured and available per level from port to end-users
  • • Percentage health facility stockouts per level and total months stockout/total months      
  • • Comparison to equivalent data from mSupply.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Output 1: Assessment of procurement price of tracer drugs, vaccines and supplies compared with reasonable international pricing and quantity procured and available from Point of Entry to health facilities.

Output 2: Report on the assessment of the procurement process and health supply chain and key factors contributing to increased stock-outs in the Solomon Islands

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Deliverable 1.1:

• • Facilitate stakeholder consultation (MHMS, NMS, selected pharmaceutical companies) to identify tracer drugs, vaccines, supplies to be followed for the assessment with emphasis on stakeholder experiences on stockouts
• • Design methodology to
  • compare procurement price with international reasonable standard pricing (including Management Sciences for Health (MSH)), including comparison with PIMEDs.
  • determine quantity procured and available per level from port to end-users
  • stockouts and total months stockout/total months at each level of the health system (national, provincial and community level).
• • Create dummy tables that highlight the above findings
• • Conduct the assessment including physical verification

 Deliverable 1.2:

• • Comparison of usage information from mSupply with tracer drugs, vaccines, supplies quantification to determine if the mSupply is effective in identifying and mitigating stockouts and leakage points along the supply chain.

Deliverable 2.1:

• • Consolidate assessment findings with inputs from MHMS, NMS, WHO and other relevant stakeholders which highlights key contributing factors to stockouts and leakages of tracer drugs, vaccines, supplies along the health supply chain particularly with regards to quantification of procurement and distribution mechanisms.
• • In addition, report should also include recommendations on mitigating factors that can address stockouts and leakages along the health supply chain and whether mSupply is effective in identifying and mitigating stockouts and leakage points along the supply chain

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential: Medical related degree from a recognized university with Postgraduate degree of Public Health or related fields.

Desirable: Specialization in medicine or pharmacology will be considered an advantage 

EXPERIENCE

Essential: Minimum 2 years public health experience at the national or international levels, in delivery of pharmacy related programs

Desirable: Experience working with Government agencies, International Partners and at Provincial level will be an advantage. Experience working in Solomon Islands or wider Pacific Region 

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• • Familiarity with the program development and implementation
• • Good facilitation and communication skills
• • Computer skills, including strong reporting skills.

LANGUAGES

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential. Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage. 

COMPETENCIES

• • Communicating in a credible and effective way
• • Producing results
• • Moving forward in a changing environment
• • Fostering integration and teamwork
• • Knowing and managing yourself

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Duty Station: WCO Solomon Islands

It is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Contract duration:

February 2023 - July 2023

SUBMISSIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit the following documents to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 27 January 2023

• • Curriculum Vitae {for individual contractors/team members} or Company Profile {for institutional applications}
• • Cover letter. The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this bid.
• • Proposal indicating solution/methodology, timelines and cost

Please use Tender Notice No. 190092 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Last day of receiving queries for this tender is on 24 January 2023

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