Consultants - Digital Health Blueprint Development in Mongolia

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Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to develop the digital health architecture blueprint – coupled with an implementation in consultation with the Ministry of Health, Mongolia. The blueprint and implementation plan will lay the foundation for a pathway for scaling up and sustaining health information systems and digital solutions that are standardized and increasingly interoperable leading to better quality and complete information, resulting in better decisions and better health outcomes.

Background

Mongolia is the least densely populated country in the world yet has among the highest infection rates of hepatitis B, a high burden of tuberculosis and a high incidence of NCDs including cancers and strokes. Population migration to the capital, Ulaanbaatar, is rapid, and the capital is home to nearly half of Mongolia’s population causing further health challenges related to poor water and sanitation and indoor air pollution among many others.

The Government of Mongolia has prioritized health and wellbeing in its Vision 2050 strategic plan and health screening of the entire population and promoting a healthy lifestyle have been spelt out as key priorities. Digitalization efforts of health information systems and health data have already been undertaken including the establishment of a health information exchange platform (HEIP). Multiple health information systems (HISs) are in operation and contribute to the health information needs of the Ministry of Health and the Health Insurance General Agency (HIGA). Health data thus gathered including from the National Screening Programme (NSP) potentially provide for effective health data analysis and informed decision making.

Recently, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) in collaboration with the WHO country office and the Division of Data Analytics, and Delivery for Impact (DDI) undertook a mission to assess health information system and health data needs arising out of the NSP and through the digitalization efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Health as a whole. While the mission recognized many advances within the health sector in applying digital health approaches and tools to streamline the health data collection, storage, analysis, dissemination and use, absence of a future state digital health architecture blueprint and related operational guidelines were recognized as limitations towards progressing Mongolia’s Vision 2050. A digital health blueprint along with a robust implementation plan would enable Mongolia health system to streamline its digital health efforts and bring all stakeholders together in generating high quality health data.

Works to be performed

The overall objectives of these terms of reference (ToR) are:

· To develop a comprehensive national digital health architecture blueprint

· To develop a digital health architecture blueprint implementation plan inclusive of a capacity development strategy to support blueprint implementation

This ToR addresses the scope, roles and responsibilities, milestones and deliverables of the technical assistance supported by an international digital health specialist.

Develop a Digital Health Architecture Blueprint

1) Perform desk review of existing digital health architecture related documents and co-organize and co-facilitate digital health architecture blueprint meetings, workshops, and other stakeholder engagement in collaboration with the MoH and the WHO country office to specify each of four architecture layers and reference models: business, data, applications, and technology.

2) Assess and map the “current state” architecture including the existing Health Information Exchange Platform and Mongolian inventory of digital health systems and solutions by analyzing data and work flows and requirements.

3) Development in consultation with the Ministry of Health, a comprehensive and detailed “future state” digital health architecture blueprint by addressing the existing, planned, proposed, and emerging digital health investment priorities necessary to fully optimize and sustain an increasingly interoperable health information exchange (HIE).

4) Use appropriate frameworks, templates, tools and techniques (e.g., collaborative requirements development methodology (CRDM) to gather requirements as needed, and preferably a TOGAF-enabled approach using tools such as the digital health platform handbook (DHPH) and the digital implementation investment guide) to guide the architecture framework design, development, and implementation.

Develop a Digital Health Architecture Blueprint implementation plan and a capacity development plan

1) Develop a comprehensive implementation plan for the digital health architecture blueprint with appropriate digital health architecture framework standards, policies, guidance, standard operating procedures for compliance and specifications according to the components within each of the four domains (business, data, application, and technology).

2) Develop a Capacity Development Plan, which includes provision of technical assistance, trainings, technological transfer, and coaching to ensure the appropriate technical stakeholders have the necessary understanding of the different aspects of the plan, including curation and maintenance of the architecture blueprint and the interoperability operational plan, software development for key HIS components that meet the requirements of the National Guidelines & Standards.

3) Develop an institutionalized approach for promoting digital literacy in aspects of ICT, promotion and use of relevant applications and systems, and use of common registries, standards, ethical and data privacy considerations.

4) Develop plans for implementation of training labs to enable basic ICT, cyber security, HMIS (data collection, reporting, quality, analysis, and use) and EHR training.

Deliverables

1) Developed Digital health architecture blueprint and relevant documents as guides and SOPs,

2) Developed Digital health architecture blueprint implementation plan and capacity Development Plan

3) Monthly progress reports (e.g., 1-page activity report or situation report)

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Post-graduate degree in public health informatics, management information systems, or other relevant related area.

Skills and Experience:

Essential:

• At least 15 years’ relevant international experience in digital health, including working in low- and middle-income country set
• Desirable:
• Should be familiar with, preferably trained and/or certified in standard digital governance (e.g., COBIT5), enterprise architecture (e.g., TOGAF, Gartner).
• Experience in developing a National Digital Health Blueprint and a costed interoperability plan in a LMIC of similar size population and GDP.
• Direct experience supporting national digital health governance, strategy, architecture blueprint/roadmap, and capacity development and implementation.
• Experience with implementation of specific health and IT standards including HL7 FHIR, IHE profiles, and ICD-10/11 is a plus.

Languages requirements:

Essential: Expert written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

Location

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Medical Clearance

The consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel to Mongolia to do the onsite work

Additional Information

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