Consultant on Health Information Systems

1. BACKGROUND

Over the past decade, the Government of Viet Nam has worked to improve the management and quality of the state statistics system, including the health information system. In 2021 WHO supported the Ministry of Health in the review of the 2014-2020 comprehensive plan for health information system development in Viet Nam. The results of the review highlighted several challenges in implementing the plan, including limited human resource capacities, the need to have strengthened policies and governance on the coordination and sharing of information within and across Ministries; the need for clear roles, responsibilities, and regulation on data use, sharing, and use; fragmented information and reporting systems with low interoperability; and lack of quality statistics in terms of completeness, timeliness, and relevance. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health recently approved Decision 828/WD-BYT (2022) on the development of a platform for health system operations, including having timely information for monitoring health system performance and outbreak situation, and for decision-making. As a focal point for the platform, the Cabinet Office of MOH has requested WHO’s technical support for the design of the platform, including finalization of core indicators.

In addition, based on Prime Minister’s Decision 643/QD-TTg (2017) and Decision 1/QD-TTg (2019) regarding the management of the quality of state statistics until 2030, all statistical agencies including the Ministry of Health are required to conduct a self-assessment of the statistical quality annually from 2020 onwards. The Ministry of Health has requested WHO to provide technical assistance to its data quality review study in collaboration with the World Bank and other partners.

The Ministry of Health also aims to strengthen the civil registration and vital statistics system and, in particular, strengthen the collection, analyses, and use of mortality and cause of death data, including those deaths that occur outside of the health facility. In Viet Nam, it has been estimated that nearly 80% of the deaths are outside of the health facility. The Ministry of Health has requested technical support from WHO with the implementation of the WHO verbal autopsy tool with piloting in selected localities.

2. PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical assistance in the areas of health information systems to support the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Team of the WHO Representative Office in Viet Nam.

3. Planned Time Lines

Start date: 1 June 2023 End date: 31 December 2023

4. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Under the overall supervision of the UHC-HLE Team Coordinator, the consultant will support the UHC team and other teams as needed on the following outputs:

Output 1: Developed health information platform and dashboard design, including monitoring and evaluation framework, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health’s Cabinet Office, Department of Planning and Finance, and Electronic Health Administration

Deliverable 1.1: Summary report on health information platform and dashboard design with core indicators (15 August 2023)

Output 2: Completed data quality assessment study for key health statistics in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the World Bank, and other partners; and upgraded DHIS2 platform to accommodate key health statistics tailored to Viet Nam’s context in collaboration with DHIS2 contracting partner

Deliverable 2.1: Summary report on data quality review roadmap, including mapping of all data sources and flows, and recommendations on next steps (30 June 2023)

Output 3: Inputs to the collection and reporting mechanisms for mortality data, including the cause of death data, and use of information to support the government in strengthening its civil registration and vital statistics system

Deliverable 3.1: Summary report on piloting of the verbal autopsy tool and recommendations (30 September 2023)

Deliverable 3.2: Summary report on improvements in collection, reporting, and use of mortality data (30 October 2023)

Output 4: Improved guidance on hospital clinical coding and electronic health records system in accordance with international standards

Deliverable 4.1: Summary report provided on the process and necessary changes to unify and standardize the hospital clinical coding system (31 December 2023)

Note: Due to COVID-19, the work and deliverables are subject to change. The incumbent needs to be flexible to adjust to any unforeseen adjustments that might occur during the implementation.

5. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

- Education:

• Essential: Master’s degree in relevant areas including public health, public policy, statistics, epidemiology, social science, or related field from a recognized university
• Desirable: Doctorate in relevant areas including public health, public policy, statistics, epidemiology, social science, or related field from a recognized university

- Experience:

• Essential: At least 10 years of experience in relevant areas including health information systems, such as health information systems design and architecture, monitoring and evaluation, or health system performance measurement
• Desirables: Prior experience of working with the Government of Viet Nam or in the Western Pacific Region on health information systems development will be considered an advantage

- Skills / and knowledge:

• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Ability to write, analyze quantitative data and build conceptual models
• Knowledge of the health system in Viet Nam desirable.
• Specific technical knowledge with development of health information platform, data quality review, or CRVS systems considered an asset.
• Excellent written communication skills, including proven ability to write clear and concise documents, including reports, submissions and briefing documents
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite, with excellent MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills

6. Language requirements:

• Expert written and spoken English

7. Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team or independently
• Produces results
• Builds and promotes partnerships
• Fosters integration and teamwork

8. Place of assignment

Under the guidance of the UHC-HLE Team Coordinator and relevant technical staff, the consultant will work on-site at VNM CO in Ha Noi, Viet Nam.

9. Medical clearance

A fitness of work clearance will be required. 10. Travel

Duty travel within Viet Nam may be conducted.

Additional Information:

• 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.
• 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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• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
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• 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.