CONSULTANCY: Technical Support for the Health System Strengthening: Development of Recommendations for Quality Healthcare in Primary Care
Background
Health system strengthening (HSS) is crucial in achieving Universal Health Coverage. It has a direct impact on both individual health and wellbeing and the overall health of the population. Improved health system performance requires national, regional and global action in three interrelated health system policy areas: service delivery, financing and governance. Strengthening of service delivery requires an increased emphasis on frontline services, particularly primary health care (PHC) which fill affect five dimensions of health system performance: (i) equity in access and financing, (ii) quality, (iii) responsiveness, (iv) efficiency and (v) resilience. This reflects the broad consensus on performance goals across established health system assessment frameworks.
A prerequisite to quality service is service availability and readiness, i.e. the health facilities should have the capacity to deliver the services offered. This capacity includes the presence of trained staff, guidelines, infrastructure, equipment, medicines and diagnostic tests. In this exercise, there are three components of service availability and readiness that will be of focus namely; health facilities, human resource for health, and service packages. Developing recommendation for policy and standards in strengthening quality health care will help to instigate an acceptable level of quality and structure in primary care for regional participating countries.
Taking the lead among the regional countries, Malaysia is convening the initiative to develop a recommendation for quality healthcare in primary care, pertaining to the area of health facilities, human resource and service packages, customised to the landscape of the region.
Purpose/Specific Objective of the Activity
To facilitate Malaysia’s Technical Team and several other regional countries in developing recommendations for policy and standards for quality in healthcare in primary care, in three focus areas namely health facilities, human resources and service packages.
Description of activities to be carried out
A series of virtual discussions with the contractor will be carried out to discuss and prepare for formal work in Malaysia, which would include technical and logistic issues to facilitate the process. Taking advantage on the geographical proximity, Malaysia will invite participants from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to be part of the workshop.
The contractual process will provide concepts or framework in making policy recommendations for in primary care. The contractor will be expected for one in-country visit for duration of five (5) working days, tentatively from 19-23 August 2019:
• Day 1: Facilitate a stakeholder meeting consultation with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Malaysia team to consolidate data input and outline of recommendation document draft. Conduct a review of the assessment tool developed by the Malaysia’s Technical Team, to collect baseline data on the three focus areas which include health facilities, human resources and services packages
• Day 2-4: Facilitate a workshop with MOH and 1-2 identified representative(s) from ASEAN countries to consolidate data input and outline of recommendation document draft. These could include lectures, sharing experience sessions and group work using appropriate tools and techniques
• Day 5: Review of the recommendation draft
Method(s) to carry out the activity
Output 1: Support MOH in preparing for formal work in Malaysia, which would include workshop agenda and discussion topics to facilitate the consultancy process.
Deliverable 1.1: A preliminary draft framework/outline on Document of Recommendation for Quality Healthcare in Primary Care making recommendation for the three focused areas, at least 1 month prior before the in-country visit
Note: Consultant is not expected to draft the recommendation document, he/she only provides technical framework in drafting recommendations.
Output 2: Facilitate a workshop with participants on consolidating the findings from baseline data of primary care service availability and readiness and discuss possible ways of making recommendations for quality healthcare in primary care.
Deliverable 2.1: A meeting report based on WHO template, summarizing the stakeholders’ input, consolidation of findings from baseline data, and recommendation for assessment tool for quality healthcare in primary care
Deliverable 2.2: Draft a final framework on the Document of Recommendation for Quality Healthcare in Primary Care
Educations/Qualifications
An advanced Degree/Masters/PhD in Public Health or other relevant postgraduate qualifications
Experience
Broad experience with profound knowledge in developing policy recommendation particularly pertaining to quality healthcare and primary care. Knowledge of the Malaysia Health Care System is an additional advantage.
Skills
In depth knowledge and hands-on experience in quality in healthcare review, strategies and adapting/developing customised national policy
Languages
Proficient in English (Read - Write - Speak / Expert)
Competencies
Able to complete the task within the given timeframe
Additional information
WHO will review all the proposals and take the best proposal, based on the prevailing industry rates.
Duration of Contract : 01 July to 31 October 2019 (for confirmation)
APPLICATIONS
Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} or Company Profile {for institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by
04 June 2019.
The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee (USD) and availability.
Please use Tender Notice No. WPRO/2019-05/MYS_DHS/TN90951/mnc as subject to all submission.
Only successful candidates will be contacted.