Consultancy to support the work on HCV access report

Project summary:

In May 2016, at the World Health Assembly, 194 countries adopted the first-ever Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis, agreeing to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. The strategy includes a target to treat 80% of people in need by this date.  WHO  issued guidelines recommending the use of new Direct Acting Antiviral (DAAs) medicines in 2014 and 2016 and included DAAs on its Essential Medicines List – which is compiled to address the priority healthcare needs of populations; to make needed essential medicines available at all times in adequate amounts, at a price the health system and community can afford. When Direct Acting Antivirals (DAAs) were first approved for hepatitis C treatment in 2013, there were widespread concerns that their high price would put them out of reach for the more than  80 million people with chronic hepatitis C infections worldwide. The new medicines have a cure rate of over 95%, fewer side effects than previously available therapies, and can completely cure the disease within three months. But at an initial estimated price of some US$85 000 they were unaffordable even in high-income countries.

To advocate and address these concerns, the WHO HIV/AIDS Department-Global Hepatitis Programme and the Department on Essential Medicines and Health Products launched a first ever Global Report on Access to Hepatitis C Treatment: Focus on Overcoming Barriers, released in October 2016. The report showed that thanks to a series of access strategies supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, a range of  low- and middle-income countries were beginning to succeed in getting drugs to people who need them at much lower prices. Strategies include competition from generic medicines including through licensing agreements, local production and price negotiations. However, there are still huge differences between what countries are paying. 

WHO is committed to create the much needed market transparency which should support country efforts to increase access to DAAs. In 2017, the report will be updated providing an on access, prices, patents and registration of hepatitis C medicines. The main objective of the Global update 2017 is to  document how countries have been improving access to the new DAAs, including lessons learnt on how major challenges were surmounted and highlighting market information to contribute and advocate for improving global access to HCV treatment. The report will also share up-to-date market information on prices, sources, including local production of generics, and regulatory and patent status to complement existing HCV medicine landscapes and analyze how market dynamics impact drug availability in low and middle income countries.

Objective:

The main aim of this consultancy is to collect and consolidate updated information on the status of access to new hepatitis drugs in twenty selected countries; to document “country case-studies” as well as global market information on individual drugs or drug combinations. The work will build on the collection of data conducted for the 2016 global report and will overview constraints and progress made twelve months after the first report.  Information will be collected from a variety of sources, including ministries of health/national hepatitis programmes/policy makers, innovator and generic pharmaceutical companies, procurement and supply organizations, non-governmental organizations and technical partners. Information will be validated and consolidated for inclusion into the 2017 WHO Global Report on Access to Hepatitis C Treatment “Focus on overcoming barriers”.

Main Tasks:

1. Design and update data collection tools and questionnaires:
2. Conduct data collection, analysis and quality assurance of data received from countries and market data on medicines
3. Prepare tables and graphs and draft text describing country case-studies and drug profiles 
4. Produce a quality assured document, internally consistent and aligned with WHO global guidance and standards, including review of technical editing and proofreading.  

Key requirements for this consultancy:

Essential Education:

Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicine, or Public Health

Desirable Education:

Expertise in Health Management Information System

Essential Work experience:

At least 10 years of public health work experience of which at least 5 years in HIV strategic information, and extensive experience in LMIC and international organizations.

Desirable Work experience:

Experience in HIV and Hepatitis data management and analysis with demonstrated ability to reach out key stakeholders, international partner collaboration, excellent communication and writing skills in English, familiarity and experience with the International Organizations.

Previous work experience with WHO or other international institutions in the field of HIV or Hepatitis would be an asset.

The place of performance of the work under the Contract shall be off site, at the convenience of the contractor.

Physical presence in Geneva may be required 2-3 times during the assignment, encompassing 2-3 weeks. Any duty travel related to this assignment will be organized separately, following the WHO Rules and Regulations on duty travel (not to be included in the proposal budget). The provider shall verify that all provider Personnel is legally entitled to travel to the country or countries where the work is to be carried out, including Switzerland.

The initial contract duration under this RFP is for 6 months maximum, and a maximum of 90 days.

Submission of proposals:

No later than 24 March 2017, 17:00 CET, the bidder shall complete and return by either email or hard copy to WHO (only when this step is completed the bidder is regarded as a prospective bidder):

1. A letter of motivation outlining relevant experience. This letter needs to indicate the daily consultancy rate. Any costs related to the assignment need to be reflected into the daily rate except for travel (which are covered by WHO),
2. An updated CV,
3. The completed and signed Confidentiality Undertaking form.

• Email for submissions of forms and/or proposal: pdifin@who.int (use subject: Bid Ref 2017HTMHIV006)
• Mailing address for submission of proposal:

World Health Organization

­­­­Mr. Jerome Peron

HQ/HIV, PDI/FIN, D45034

Bid Ref: 2017HTMHIV006

20, Avenue Appia

CH-1211 Geneva 27        

Refer to attached documents for additional information.

• Web Site: http://www.who.int/hiv/en/