China Study Visits [CONTRACT: Non Individual Agreement for Performance of Work]

BACKGROUND

Countries in the Western Pacific Region have been experiencing transitions in their health systems. More pronounced of late is the transition towards increased domestic resource mobilization to finance priority health programmes as global health initiatives and external donor partners phase out their support due to countries increasing incomes and better health outcomes. In some countries, governments are reducing direct control of public hospitals, improving their governance and management, strengthening primary health care, leveraging private sector to support public health objectives and strengthening their health care financing systems with focus on social health insurance. Furthermore, actions to improve the resilience of health systems to accommodate shocks such as infectious disease outbreaks and natural disasters or to address chronic diseases and rising health-care costs are being implemented in most countries.

 

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

We are seeking for a firm, a joint venture or an consortium (hereafter termed
as “institution” to serve as service provider, who can support the Health Policy and Financing Unit (HPF) under the Division of Health System in the Western Pacific Regional Office in the programme management of the study visits of four participating countries (namely, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia and Viet Nam) to several provinces in China.

 

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Through the engagement with local decision-makers and health policy and systems implementers, researchers and stakeholders; through onsite observations, key information discussions, and/or local presentations, the study visits aim:

1. To showcase China’s health reform implementation experiences at provincial level, including understanding the content, process, progress of China’s; and
2. To share the implementation experiences and learn the practical experiences of China in improving health service delivery arrangements and capacities; benefit package /entitlements; social health insurance design; innovations in provider payment mechanisms and associated incentives; Public Financial Management (PFM); PHC enhancements and hospital transformation; integrated care reform and continuity of care; and Health information System (HIS) and ICT, depending on the participating countries focus.

 

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

It is proposed that [area/s] will be visited in China, given demonstrated successes in health systems development and strengthening. Furthermore, in view of the policy interventions and tools, [area/s] have been chosen to showcase implementation experiences, demonstrated outcomes and systemic approaches. The choice of the provinces/areas is critical in that nuances of management and implementation, the importance of governance and political will, and the varying accountability mechanisms will offer considerable learning, insights and demonstrations of successes.

There will be at most (3) visits during the period; and the prospective tendered can bid for all three visits (see Figure 1). Participants from the four countries will comprise the core study visit team. The main organiser in China will have the task to ensure that differences in context, experience and understanding are bridged and featured as an element of local level integration, service delivery and financing. Insofar as this will be viewed from a subnational perspective, there is a need to embed sustainability across the portfolio of priority health programmes, a much more enhanced focus on domestic financing (overall increases of funding), and a recognition that efforts to address sustainability and transition need to be flexible, given the varied financial and epidemiological context of countries and should be considered from a health systems view. In addition, examining issues, tools and interventions at a subnational level in China shall afford participants an almost country-level examination given the size, scope and depth of health systems issues and development in China’s provinces.

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Figure 1 – Illustrative example of provincial/area and issues/scope

Study Visit 1

Province Area:

Areas of Focus:

1. Benefit package reforms

2. Social health insurance

3. Transition Financing

4. Health financing reforms/provider payments

5. Public Financial Management

 

Study Visit 2

Province Area:

Areas of Focus:

1. Transition financing

2. Health service delivery arrangements and capacities

3. PHC enhancements and hospital transformation

4. Service delivery transformation in urban areas

 

Study Visit 3

Province Area:

Areas of Focus:

1. Integrated care reform

2. Transition financing

3. Health Information system and ICT

4. Service delivery transformation in rural areas

Note:  Although there are proposed provinces mentioned above, there is flexibility in identifying the provinces that will showcase the best demonstrated outcomes in light of China's innovations, experiments and experiences.  Further, the issues/scope may have slight rearrangements depending on the final choice of provinces/areas, but the broad topics as mentioned shall remain relevant.

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Each study visit shall reinforce the importance of a health systems perspective. Focused areas will not be presented in a compartmentalized way but rather with a systemic view. The structure of the visit shall be designed based on the choice of provinces/areas; and it is expected that chosen provinces/areas in China will highlight specific innovations and demonstrated outcomes in the broad areas mentioned above (refer to Box 1).

Box 1 – Tools and interventions

• Health service delivery arrangements and capacities
• Benefit package reforms
• Social Health Insurance reforms
• Provider payment mechanisms reforms
• Public Financial Management (PFM)
• PHC enhancements and hospital transformation
• Integrated care reform and continuity of care
• Health Information System (HIS) and ICT

 

To facilitate a focused approach to learning, it is suggested that one study visit will focus on areas drawing from participating countries cross-cutting and specific preferences. At most three visits will be arranged with identified scope. The four participating countries will be given a choice to participate in any of the scheduled study visits with their preferred scope and areas. Also, the most appropriate provinces/areas and their tools and interventions will be considered and matched against the participating countries preferred areas and topics. It is critical for the country participants to process their learnings with the WHO Country Office focal point at the end of each day; and this will be part of the programme/agenda.

A service provider that will programme manage this work shall be identified/chosen through a competitive recruitment process. This supporting organisation will have the relevant experience and expertise and can give their full attention to the study tour. The WHO Country and Regional Offices will remain engaged, e.g. for determining the objectives and the major focus of the study visit, for providing country background and reform assessments, for providing suggestions on program elements and facilitating contacts, for accompanying the delegation to some events or the whole time, as hosts for official events, as contact person for the media. Tasks of the supporting institution can include one or several of the following: (1) logistics and general organisation,
(2) programme design, interaction with the delegation and accompaniment,
(3) practical insights and/or conceptual inputs. The cost for service contract will cover the return economy airfare, subsistence allowance, transportation allowance, honorarium expenses, management fees and other miscellaneous/contingence expenses. Included in the milestones under the contract are the programme agenda, schedule and structure of the visits and a case study on each of the country participants and how their areas of interest can benefit from China’s experience, among others.

 

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

A firm, joint venture or consortium (the institution) with the stated qualification criteria below may put out a tender. The institution shall have the opportunity to bid for at most three (3) study visits. The institution has a minimum 5 years of experience in health policy, financing or governance, preferably in the Western Pacific Region. It has substantial project management experience and the facility and the network to operate within the Chinese system and bureaucracy. It is desirable if the institution has connections to national and/or local/provincial experts or agencies/offices that can help facilitate the operations of the study visit, including serving as potential key resource experts or informants. In addition, it is desirable if the prospective institution will have technical facility in health financing (i.e. background on health accounts), DRG-based payments system, financial protection, experience and skills in conducting data analysis and report writing, and experience in conducting focus group discussions.  A project-level concept note shall be shared with the prospective bidders that expressed interest to put out a tender.

LANGUAGES

The meeting will be conducted in English and Chinese. Interpretation services will be provided. The following translation will be made available:

• Chinese – English
• English – Khmer
• English – Laos
• English – Mongolian
• English – Vietnamese

COMPETENCIES

• Good communication
• Fostering integration and teamwork
• Producing results
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Knowing and managing yourself
• Managing group dynamics

 

 

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their Company Profile {institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 15 March 2019. 

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposal rate (USD) and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. WPRO/2019-02/DHS_HPF/TN83822/mnc as subject to all submission. 

Only successful candidates will be contacted.