Consultant - Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant will develop criteria to examine the training modules to identify the applicability of training courses for CPD in line with the recently revised “Law on Health Care” as well as the ongoing work of the Lao government in regulatory system development for HRH, particularly on CPD system, licensing system, as well as cadre-specific regulations, and examine the training courses according to the agreed criteria to identify CPD training courses for nurses and midwives. After the consultant identifies the training courses for CPD for nurses and midwives, s/he will discuss further with the government and relevant development partners the applicability of CPD in each training and refine the criteria.

The consultant will also work on the revision of the regulations for nurses and midwives to include articles for licensing and registration system, including CPD requirements.

Background

According to “the Strategy on Healthcare Professional Licensing and Registration System in Lao PDR 2016-2025 (Ministry of Health)”, a licensing system for healthcare professionals, including nurses and midwives, has been developed. National examination for nurses and midwives for registration and full licensing for the initial five years has started in the past few years. However, a system for license renewal, which is required every five years, has not been in place. In 2023, for further implementation of the strategy, the government of Lao PDR drafted a ministerial agreement on CPD. CPD is defined in the drafted agreement as “the development of professional skills in a systematic manner such as long-term education, participation in short-term training, seminars, technical meetings, clinical teaching, scientific research, contributing to society, self-learning, etc. to maintain, increase and obtain new knowledge to serve in the field of public health.” In the agreement, healthcare professionals, including nurses and midwives, are required to apply for license renewal every five years based on the cumulative accredited continuing learning activities by healthcare professionals. As a part of CPD system development plan, the government of Lao PDR has requested WHO Lao PDR for technical support to investigate the existing continuous learning opportunities to identify accreditable in-service training courses in RMNCAH fields for nurses and midwives that can be accounted as training for CPD. In the meantime, the government also requested technical support from WHO Lao PDR to contribute to the revision of the cadre-specific regulation for nurses and midwives, which articulates licensing and registration system including CPD requirements in collaboration with other relevant development partners.

Deliverables

Deliverable 1: 1st draft criteria to examine and collect the data on the existing in-service training courses in RMNCAH fields Deliverable 2: Updated criteria to examine the existing in-service training courses in RMNCAH fields based on feedback from the Ministry of Health, the Health Professional Council, development partners including JICA and other key stakeholders under the guidance of relevant programs in the WHO office including the MCH and HRH programs Deliverable 3: Summary of mapping of existing in-service training courses in RMNCAH fields according to the criteria and analysis Deliverable 4: Technical report on the final results of the application of the existing in-service training course in RMCNAH fields for CPD for nurses and midwives and the refined criteria to define and develop training courses for CPD Deliverable 5: Technical report on the analysis on the gap between nursing and midwifery regulation and the new midwifery scope of practice to make recommendations to improve the regulation.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Bachelor’s degree in midwifery, or nursing is essential.

Desirable: Master degree in the area of public health/international development/nursing or midwifery teaching is an asset.

Experience:

Essential:Clinical work experience in RMNCAH fields for at least 5 years, particularly, antenatal care, intrapartum care and newborn care. At least 2 years of work experience in clinical teaching in maternal and child health in the clinical setting. At least 2 years’ of work experience in public health in low resource setting. Experience of reviewing regulatory and educational policy documents/guidelines/protocols in RMNCAH and midwifery.

Desirable: Some experience in research work on global health. Some work experience with Ministry of Health (central level)

Skills/Knowledge

Essential: Knowledge and skills for clinical practice in RMNCAH. Clinical teaching skills on RMNCAH. Understanding on regulatory and educational system for Human Resource for Health in RMNCAH Strong communication skills Networking capability, interpersonal skills

Desirable: Understanding on HRH policy in low resource setting

Languages and level required

Essential: Expert knowledge of English

Location

On site: Vientiane, Lao PDR

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget:

Remuneration: Band level A. 200 USD per day for 20 days per month.

Expected duration of contract: 11 months, 1 April 2024 to 28 February 2025

Additional Information:

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