Consultant (Health Systems) - World Health Organization (WHO)

1. POSITION VACANT: Consultant - Health Systems, Assam (Guwahati), Chhattisgarh (Raipur) and Karnataka (Bengaluru)

2. BACKGROUND:

The Health Sustainable Developments Goals (h-SDG) have Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as the overarching goal to achieve all other health related global targets. In order to achieve UHC, it is widely recognized that investments are needed in national health systems based on a strong primary health care model.

The 2017 National Health Policy reflects the commitment of the Government of India to progress towards UHC. The recently announced Ayushman Bharat Program (ABP) aims to address health holistically by expanding a range of essential health services for Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) through Health and Wellness Centers (HWC) and increasing financial protection through the National Health Protection Mission (NHPM).

WHO India is providing technical support to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India and NITI Aayog, amongst others, on ABP at the national level. WHO has also received requests from states for technical assistance on health systems strengthening to ensure successful roll-out and scale-up of initiatives proposed under the ABP.

3. OBJECTIVE:

The objective of the consultancy is to provide technical assistance to State Governments for the efficient and effective implementation of health policies and programs and advancement towards UHC (accessibility, availability and affordability).

4. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Consultant - Health Systems shall function as the WHO health systems technical focal point based at the state level and work closely with the State Health Department, National Health Mission Directorate, other stakeholders and implementing partners.

The work will require travel within the state (up to 30% of time) with occasional travel to Delhi.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:
(1) Contribute to the development, integration and operationalization of state health policies and plans for timely implementation and scale up of the ABP, with attention to comprehensive Primary Health Care (PHC) and in alignment with financial reforms under NHPM as per state demands;
(2) Provide technical assistance for preparedness assessment, planning and monitoring of the roll-out of HWCs guided by national operational guidelines;
(3) Identify and develop context-specific service delivery models and workflow dynamics in a geographically defined area;
(4) Build capacity for analysis, development and planning of the health workforce, in particular mid-level healthcare providers and comprehensive PHC teams;
(5) Provide regular feedback and guidance to the State Government based on evidence from monitoring of activities at the state and sub-state levels;
(6) Liaison with WHO Health Systems Team on providing support to the state on health financing and health insurance related issues;
(7) Mobilize WHO support on access to medicines, diagnostics and blood products;
(8) Advocate for and facilitate information sharing on progress towards SDGs and UHC, in coordination with the WHO Field Office;
(9) Collaborate with and foster partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders for health system strengthening at state level;
(10) Other duties, which may be assigned from time to time.

5. QUALIFICATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualification:

Essential:
Applicants must have a Masters’ Degree in Public Health, Social Science or Health related discipline.

Desirable:
Applicants having an MD in Community Medicine shall be preferred.

Experience:

Essential:
(1) Applicants must have a minimum of four years’ experience in the area of health systems and/or public health at the state or national level.
(2) Relevant experience in policy, planning, monitoring of service delivery and health programs;
(3) Experience in providing technical assistance to guide policies and implementation.

Desirable:
(1) Applicants having seven years or more experience in health systems and/or public health at the state or national level;
(2) Applicants having experience in working with government health officials, other health actors and working with UN agencies shall be at an advantage.

Skills and Competencies:
(1) Good understanding of the Indian health system;
(2) Excellent communication, teamwork and coordination skills as well as strong analytical skills and experience with technical reporting;
(3) Fluent in English and ability to understand the local language.

6. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

The gross remuneration will be as per pay band ranges for national consultants of WHO India.

7. LOCATION: Assam (Guwahati), Chhattisgarh (Raipur) and Karnataka (Bengaluru).

8. CONTRACT: Successful candidates shall be offered consultancy contracts by WHO India till December 2019. Extension of contract is subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

9. REFERENCE: CHS-WHO

10. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senior Consultant
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 2684 2162; 4165 3612
Email: chs-who@sams.co.in

11. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates must ensure that their application is emailed to chs-who@sams.co.in by or before September 23, 2018 and is accompanied by an updated CV/resume and has details of three references.

Applicants are requested to clearly mention their interest in vacancies in Assam, Chhattisgarh and/or Karnataka in the Subject of their Email applications.

Applicants applying for all the locations, are requested to clearly mention the order of preference, between the three states, in their respective CVs.

Candidates who get shortlisted based on their application will have to go through an online written test. Candidates who qualify the written test will be called for a personal round of interview, which will be conducted in New Delhi.