STC on Human Resource for Health

#VN049 - Job Title: STC on human resource for health

1. Background:

The Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030, which was adopted by the sixty-ninth World Health Assembly in May 2016, set the four strategic objectives to ensure universal access to health workforce by 2030. Establishing regulatory mechanisms, such as licensing of health professionals and accreditation of health professional training programmes, and alignment of international standards for health professional education are key interventions for improving the quality of human resources for health in line with the Global Strategy. Well-trained health professionals, including medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are critical to delivering quality health care. Strengthening the health workforce is needed for Viet Nam to implement its grassroots healthcare and other health sector reforms.

In July 2020, the Viet Nam government established a national medical council in line with the Party Resolution 20 (No 20/2017–NQ/TW) on the protection, care and improvement of people’s health in the new situation which highlighted health professional education reform as one of the priorities for the country. The resolution includes establishing a national medical council to administer national licensing examinations and grant practice certificates according to international standards. The national medical council will set competency standards for health professional education and prepare the conditions for the assessment of health professionals. In August 2021, the office of the national medical council was established by the Ministry of Health.

Based on request from the Ministry of Health, the WHO Representative Office in Viet Nam has provided technical assistance to the Government of Viet Nam in health professional education reform and health legislation in Viet Nam, including on the establishment of a national medical council. The continued areas of WHO support will entail, but will not be limited to, establishment of the national medical council and national licensing examination and health workforce planning..

2. Work to be performed

Method(s) to carry out the activity

The consultant can work remotely if needed. The work will involve but not be limited to; coordinating across partners, participating in meetings and workshops (remotely if needed), providing technical advice to documents and reports as required. The consultant will provide support to the UHC team and relevant MOH departments on health workforce regulation and planning.

Output/s

Method(s) to carry out the activity

Output/s

Under the overall supervision of the UHC Team Leader, the consultant will support the UHC team on the following outputs:

Output 1: Technical support to establishment of national medical council and preparation for national licensing examination, including item bank development, and collaboration with Korea Health Personnel Health Examination Institute

Deliverable 1-1: Substantive technical input provided to 3 online workshops (orientation of council and two on item bank development) and an end-of-year NMC meeting
Deliverable 1-2: Substantive technical input provided to develop Plan for national licensing examination preparations for 2022-2023

Output 2: Technical support to co-organize 5th Annual Medical Education Conference

Deliverable 2-1: Substantive technical input provided to the agenda of the 5th Annual Medical Education Conference

3. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 1 October 2021 End date: 31 December 2021

4. Specific requirements

a. Qualifications required:

Essential: Undergraduate degree in relevant areas including medicine, nursing, public health or education science from a recognised university.
Desirable: Master’s degree in relevant areas including medicine, nursing, public health or education science from a recognised university.

b. Experience required:

Essential: At least 5 years of experience in relevant areas including in public health, health policy development, and health professional education development.
Desirable: Prior experience of working with the Government of Viet Nam or in the Western Pacific Region on health workforce related issues will be considered an advantage.

c. Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

Strong Analytical and communication skills
Ability to write, handle quantitative data and build conceptual models
Knowledge of the health system in Viet Nam desirable.
Specific technical knowledge with health information systems and health work force data bases considered an asset.

d. Language requirements: