National Consultant on HCF Governance (WHO)

VN052 - Job Title: To provide technical support to the WHO Representative Office for Viet Nam in support to the Government of Viet Nam in implementing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with the focus on primary care, equitable and sustainable financing, and governance.

Background:

WHO CO in Vietnam is providing technical assistance to the government of Vietnam in health system strengthening which covers a wide range of issues from financing, service delivery, human resource, to governance. The work further focuses on different aspects of care such as primary care and hospital based care, financing and governing health facilities’ autonomy; quality and safety, and the integration of care across care providers as well as across the care levels.

Since the country economic reform from centralised and government-led model to market-oriented economy known as “doi moi”, Vietnam health care system is constantly in a changing and transforming process. In this process, more resources have been made available for health; however, new, and unprecedented challenges are also emerged such as the system fragmentation with hospital centric trend, and underprovided primary care while the population faces continual cost escalation and high out-of-pocket payments. These issues directly or indirectly affect quality of care, health outcomes and patient experiences and satisfaction. Furthermore, the country is increasingly facing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and rapid population ageing, which require adaptation of service delivery, but moreover, a sustainable public financing system that is adequate and capable in shaping behaviours of health service providers towards equity, efficiency and better health outcomes, especially for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable population.

To better address the new health and system challenges, besides the needs to rearrange service delivery and promoting primary health care, WHO is promoting strengthening of public financing sources for health, that is, the state budget and social health insurance funds, and the better use of these sources via strategic purchasing approaches. Strategic purchasing entails number of strategies, such as well defining of the list of services to be provided, costing and pricing of these services, and method to allocate funds and to pay to health service providers. Furthermore, a comprehensive and effective governance mechanism is needed to be worked-out so that key principles of public health and effective regulations are in place to guide service provision and effective decision-making process by the system regulators that is based on health and healthcare information and evidence.

The purpose of these TORs is to strengthen the country office’s capacity in supporting the Government of Vietnam in the adoption of the strategic purchasing approaches towards, toward the goal of making essential services available, at affordable cost, to all.

The above proposed activity is in line with WHO’s 13th Global Program of Work (GPW 13) and contributing to its triple billion goals. Specifically, this activity will contribute to the achievement of GPW 13’s Output 1.2.1 - Countries enabled to develop and implement equitable health financing strategies and reforms to sustain progress towards universal health coverage.

1. Work to be performed

Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 01 Feb 2023
End date: 31 Dec 2023
The expected timeline for the full-time consultancy.

Method(s) to carry out the activity

Output/s

Under the supervision of the Health System Team’s Coordinator at the WHO Representative Office for Viet Nam, the consultant will provide technical assistance provision to the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam.

The consultant will be required to report to the WHO Representative Office for Viet Nam at full time basis and deliver following outputs.

Output 1: technical assistance provided around health financing strategy development, implementation support, evidence generation and analytics as inputs to health financing policies
- Deliverable 1: inputs provided in the development of the country health financing matrix review (from Feb - Jun 2023)
- Deliverable 2: inputs provided in analyses on health financing information,including health expenditures and financial protection (from Apr 23 – 31 Dec 23)

Output 2: technical assistance provided around strategic purchasing/provider payment mechanism
- Deliverable 2: inputs provided in supporting and coordinating the country effort in reforming provider payment mechanism and price setting (Apr 23 – 31 Dec 23)

Output 3: support provided in governance of healthcare facilities including hospital autonomy
- Deliverable 3: inputs made to the evaluation of public financial managementrules applied to public healthcare providers (Feb – Jun 23)

2. Specific requirements

Educational Qualifications

Essential:

University degree in public health, health economics, health financing, public health management, public administration, or other health or public health related sciences from a recognized university

Desirable:

A postgraduate degree in relevant areas including public health, health economics, health financing, health insurance, public health management, health policy and planning, health administration, from a recognized university Experience

Essential:

At least 5 years experiences in relevant areas including health financing, public health

Desirable:

Previous experience working in development or health development

Skills/Knowledge

Knowledge on the structure and current challenges of Vietnam health service delivery system including grass root healthcare system and hospital healthcare system Languages and level required

Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English and Vietnamese

Competencies

Good coordination and communication skills across different technical programmes and partners.
Ability to establish harmonious working relationships and teamwork and adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain high level of personal conduct.
Ability to demonstrate gender equality and cultural appropriateness within the office and among partners.
Fostering integration and teamwork

3. Place of assignment

On site: Ha Noi, Viet Nam (the consultant is expected to work full time at the WHO Representative Office in Viet Nam)

4. Medical clearance

A fitness to work clearance is needed.

5. Travel

The Consultant is expected to travel where and when required by the Manager. Any travel will follow the appropriate WHO rules and regulations for travel and be arranged by WHO.

6. Budget

Please take note of the following when submitting application:

- The contractor will be responsible for paying taxes, if any.

Those who are interested can submit your most updated CV and application letter indicating post title and vacancy notice # on/or 9 December 2022 and should be addressed to: