Short-term Consultant on Telemedicine

VN019 - Short-term consultant on telemedicine

Background:

Vietnam has successfully contained the 1st wave of COVID-19 pandemic. The country has resumed almost normal economic activities since late April while continues to run the epidemic surveillance and control system. However, given the characteristics of the virus and its transmission, it is well recognized that the risks are potential, and the outbreak surge can happen any time. VNM needs to continue containment measures to supress the epidemic trajectory while effectively prepare and enhance the capacity of health service delivery system for any future surge of the epidemic while continue to meet the essential health care needs in the community.

Telemedicine – health care delivered remotely, has been discussed as one of innovative ways to ensure continued access to essential services while responding and containing the virus transmission. The discussions and initiatives in the country about the use of telemedicine during the epidemic time have been so far focus more on teleworking between secondary and tertiary specialists over sharing patient’s information and images and getting tertiary specialist advices on diagnosis and treatment. Not much yet discussion on telemedicine at primary level, between community health workers (CHW)/district doctors and patients at home, especially vulnerable patients such as older people, disable, pregnant mothers, young children, or patient with existing chronic conditions.

Recognizing the important initiative from the Gov in ensuring access to essential services, including COVID-related services, WHO proposes to support the Gov to design and introduce telemedicine at grassroot level, focusing on enhancing capacity of district and commune staff in responding to community health needs, reducing un-necessary travel and risk exposure to COVID-19 for both patients and health care staff. This initiative is relevant to the WCO’s current flagship plan to strengthen primary care, renewing care model, promoting coordinated and continual care for older and NCD patients. Moreover, this initiative will contribute to community engagement and increased capacity of district and commune health staff in implementing optimal care pathways, handling COVID and non-COVID patients, via keeping close links to community and households.

Work to be performed

Output/s Under the overall supervision of UHC-HLE Team Leader, the consultant will work directly with relevant government stakeholders on the following outputs:

Output 1: Technical support provided in developing of technical guidelines for telemedicine providers and users, at primary care and community level
- Deliverable 1: Draft guidelines completed and consultation with relevant experts conducted

Output 2: Technical support provided in preparing of training material (and e-learning package) focusing on ICOPE, COVID-19 related issues and essential NCDs, for primary care workers.
- Deliverable 2: Training materials (in PPTs format) for primary health care workers on (1) ICOPE, (2) COVID-19, and (3) essential NCDs completed.

Output 3: Technical support provided in delivering of training courses (including online courses) for primary care workers on the COVID-related, ICOPE and NCDs topics
- Deliverable 3: Training of trainers and training courses delivered in selected sites

Output 4: Support provided to provinces that implement telemedicine at primary care level.
- Deliverable 4: Field visits conducted to provide technical advices and problem-solving during provincial implementation of telemedicine and primary care strengthening in selected sites.

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 22 July 2020 End date: 22 June 2021

Attachment:

Detailed call for expression of interest

Address for Applications:

Administrative Officer World Health Organization UN Building, 304 Kim Ma Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam Or by email at: wpvnmapplicants@who.int

Application deadline: 7 July 2020