Consultant- Family Medicine focal person (FM)

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

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1. Purpose of the Consultancy

The main objectives of this consultancy are to provide technical advice to PHC Team in:

• Mapping and situation analysis of family medicine training in the EMR, with the following objectives:
  • To map and assess postgraduate family medicine (FM) training programmes.
  • To compare production versus community needs of family practitioners in the EMR member states (demand-need analysis).
  • To provide comprehensive / interactive digital reports on family practice status, including productions and retention rates, distribution, duration / modality of training and accreditation (specific country profiles).
• Promotion of family medicine speciality in the EMR through follow up and support the ongoing collaboration between WHO and regional academic institutes in strengthening Family Medicine speciality (training, capacity building and continuous medical education, and interprofessional networking).
• Collaborate with Arab Board of Health Specialization (ABHS) in updating and implementing the Regional Professional Diploma in Family Medicine (RPD-FM).
• Provide regional office support to develop a Model to Strengthen Primary Health Care for Universal Health Coverage in Sudan as part of initiative in selected countries of EMR to identify their model of care.
• Update, evaluation, and promotion of online training for primary care physicians on COVID-19

2. Background

3. Mapping and situation analysis of family medicine training in the eastern Mediterranean region

Family Medicine is a well-developed discipline in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australasia and North America with its own historical milestones, traditions of vocational training, and research. The rising importance of Family Medicine is looked at as the cornerstone of the continuum of care and universal health coverage (UHC). Family Medicine training already occurs in some EMR countries, while others still struggle with establishment of Family Medicine training programmes and degrees.

The total number of physicians/100,000 population in the EMR is still far beyond the WHO recommendation of 1/500 (200/100,000) . In addition, most general practitioners are, in fact generalists, without the necessary advanced training to deliver the complex care that modern healthcare landscape requires. These generalist physicians have only a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery.

The current FM training modalities, durations, production rate and retention in Eastern Mediterranean region is not well studied. This proposed situation analysis is expected to yield necessary evidence to help developing and implementing bridging programmes, and to increase family medicine production in countries with largest gap between needs and production rates in the region.

2. Collaboration with academic institutes to promote family medicine/practice

On 8 April 2021 WHO EMRO and the Arab Board of Health Specializations (ABHS) signed a five-year collaboration agreement strengthening family medicine/ practice and health systems to progress towards universal health coverage in the Arab world, this was followed by similar agreement with 9 universities in Pakistan and preparations are ongoing for singing a similar collaboration agreement with Arab gulf universities. One of key areas of focus of those agreement is Implementation of the regional diploma programme in Family Medicine as an important element of health workforce development through:

a) studying the options for conducting the diploma programme under continuing professional development activities for physicians, nurses, and other health professionals in general and as related to family practice; and

b) promoting access to knowledge and information including provision for access to essential databases and sources of scientific evidence for residents, trainers, and other health professionals, with focus on family practice.

A steering committee for promotion of family practice meet quarterly to follow up implementation of these agreements.

3. Model of care

WHO conducted a mission on “Health System Strengthening based on Primary Health Care to Advance Universal Health Coverage” to Sudan during April 2021, with wide participation of different health sector partners? The mission reviewed the status of the health system, identified the challenges, and agreed with the government on a roadmap for strengthening health system to advance towards UHC. One of the mission’s action points was to support the development of a PHC-oriented “model of care”. Successful models of care evolve in response to continuous performance monitoring, changing populations, health needs and contexts with the aim of ensuring that all people receive the right care, at the right time, by the right team, and in the right place.”

Alma Ata Declaration in 1978 and Astana Declaration in 2018 have highlighted the central importance of primary health care (PHC) as a foundation of UHC. PHC is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to health that combines: multisectoral policy and action; empowered people and communities; and primary care and essential public health functions as the core of integrated health services available throughout the course of life.

4. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 1October 2021

End date: 30September 2022

5. Work to be performed

To achieve the above objectives, the consultant will perform the following:

1. Coordinate with AUB, ABHS training committee to develop study protocol for FM mapping and situation analysis in the EMR
2. Participate with AUB and FM Taskforce in in developing study tools (surveys, questionnaire, and interviews).
3. Overview data collection and analysis phases of FM mapping and situation analysis in the EMR.
4. Review the results and final report results of FM mapping and situation analysis in the EMR.
5. Liaising between WHO EMRO teams to digitize and publish the final report of FM mapping and situation analysis in the EMR.
6. Liaise between EMRO and RPDFM Steering Committee, WONCA, UNICEF and American University in Beirut (AUB) and Arab Board for Health specialization to plan the best approaches for implementation of regional professional diploma in family medicine.
7. Organize series of Task force group meetings to recommend and provide technical support for implementation of the regional professional diploma in family medicine.
8. Participate in EMR 2021-2022 COVID-19 related workplan to update and promote and evaluate training titled “The role of Primary Health Care (PHC) during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
9. support advocacy for family practice through FM webpage, infographics, brochures
10. Document evidence, conduct analytical work and publications on options for increasing production of family physicians in the EMR.
11. Participate in the development and implantation of country specific (Sudan) workplan a Model to Strengthen Primary Health Care for Universal Health Coverage.

Outputs

Output 1: Report of the results of FM training mapping and situation analysis in the EMR.

Output 2: Digital dashboard and country profile of family medicine training in EMR.

Output 3: Report on Regional professional diploma programme implementation in academic institutes in EMR.

Output 4: Report on Steering Committee recommendations for promoting FM in the EMR.

Output 5: Develop “Sudan Implementation Guidance for Model of Care to Strengthening PHC for UHC”

Required Qualifications

Education:

University degree in medicine

Desirable: Master’s is Public Health

Experience****:

At least 3 year experience in public health and service delivery innovations.

Skills/ Technical knowledge

• Excellent knowledge of health systems, stakeholder analysis and service delivery.
• Good communication / PR skills
• Solid background in family medicine (preferably faculty member of an academic institution)
• Good experience with project management

Language

Fluent (Read - Write - Speak) in English and Arabic, French is preferable

Location:

The consultant will work at WHO EMRO, with possible remote assignments and travel in the EMR, as needed

Medical clearance : The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.) All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance. Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Additional Information section

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• Remuneration is in line with WHO consultant established rates
• Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual engagement via a consultancy, as they become available. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relationship with WHO
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that: (a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated; (b) All required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided; (c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.