Consultancy to support the work on SAGE in vitro diagnostics and WHO Essential Diagnostics List

BACKGROUND

The 20th WHO Model List of Essential Medicines was published on 6 June 2017, with a number of important new additions, including a recommendation by the Expert Committee on the Selection of Essential Medicines that WHO develop an Essential Diagnostics List (EDL). Based on that recommendation, WHO has begun to lay the ground for the preparation of the list, which will become an important contribution to Universal Health Coverage (UHC). As a first step, WHO is creating a Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics (SAGE IVD), which will advise WHO on global policies and the development of the EDL.

Like the established Essential Medicines List, the EDL is intended to provide evidence-based guidance to countries to create their own national lists of essential diagnostic tests and tools. National essential medicines lists have been successful in facilitating access to treatment and promoting affordable prices, particularly in low-resourced countries, by prioritizing the most important medicines all countries need to make available to their populations. It is expected that national essential diagnostics lists will provide the same benefits for diagnostic tests. The WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines acknowledged that diagnostic tests are essential to “diagnose the disease or subpopulation for which certain medicines may be indicated, and to monitor the medication effectiveness or toxicity. Furthermore, often the diagnosis has important implications for prognosis. The Committee recognized that Member States and countries might seek advice about which technologies to prioritize, how to shift from one technology to another, and which technologies should accompany essential medicines since they are strongly interconnected."

The Committee also recommended that the EDL list initially focus on in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) for priority areas such as TB, malaria, HIV and Hepatitis B & C, but that it should be expanded as soon as possible to other important conditions, including other antimicrobials and non-communicable diseases. Some of the benefits expected from the EDL are improved patient care, greater capacity to diagnose diseases during outbreaks, increased affordability of tests, improved regulation and quality of diagnostic tests and strengthened capabilities of national laboratories.

Purpose of the work:

Develop the WHO List of Essential in vitro Diagnostics (EDL) in collaboration with the SAGE IVD and all relevant internal and external stakeholders.

Work to be performed:

• Assist the secretariat in organizing the SAGE IVD meeting and mechanisms for stakeholder engagement.
• Contribute in establishing the process and methodology for WHO EDL with the help of SAGE IVD and experts within WHO.
• Write, edit and disseminate technical documents required for SAGE IVD meeting including meeting report.

Planned timelines:

Start date:  15/03/2018

End date: 15/09/2018

Key requirements for this assignment:

Education:

Essential: Post-graduate degree in public health, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, biostatistics, biomedical engineering or related fields.

Desirable: Specialization in epidemiology, Health Technology assessment, regulation or immunology and/or vaccinology or professional training in clinical diagnostics or laboratory technology.

Experience:

Essential: At least 7 years of experience relating to the biomedical or diagnostics in sector, covering a wide range of disease areas and associated diagnostics, of which at least 5 years in an international or national organization and/or major institutions;

Desirable: Previous work experience with WHO.

Experience in Health technology assessment (HTA) or Regulation at country level including working with decision-making committees.

Experience of working in collaboration with scientists and/or researchers with diverse backgrounds, government, and non-government organizations and industry with a proven record of accomplishment in producing results in the field of diagnostics.

An understanding and experience of the diagnostic-related issues in low- and middle-income countries.

Applicants with previous experience in the diagnostic industry will be considered but eligibility will be subject to a review by WHO ethics to ensure there are no real or perceived conflicts of interest. Any individual named on the bid, either as co-applicant, sub-contractor or advisor will also be subject to conflict of interest review.

Language requirement

English – expert level (reading, writing, speaking).

Additional information:

The implementation of the assignment may require international travel; costs for such travel will be borne by WHO according to its rules and regulations. The contractor has to be legally entitled to work in the country or countries where the work is to be carried out, and is expected to be in the possession of an unrestricted passport.

Submission of proposals:

No later than 02 February 2018 (17:00 CET), the bidder shall complete and return by email to WHO (only when this step is completed the bidder is regarded as a prospective bidder):

a)      Covering letter signed by the respective authority.

b)      Proposal (including, technical and financial documents).

c)      RFP Confidentiality Undertaking  form completed/signed.

d)      RFP Acknowledgement form completed/signed as confirmation of the bidder's intention to submit a bona fide proposal and designate its representative to whom communications may be directed, including any addenda.

e)      RFP Acceptance form completed/signed.                 

f)       RFP Completeness form completed/signed.                                                                                                                                  

A prospective bidder requiring any clarification on technical, contractual or commercial matters may notify WHO via email at the following address no later than 10 days prior to the closing date for the submission of offers:

Email for submissions of forms and proposal:       edlsecretariat@who.int

(use subject: Bid Ref HQ/EMP/IAU/2018/001)

Refer to attached documents for additional information.