Medical Advisor

Contract

This is a DRC - National contract. More about DRC - National contracts.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Since December 2017, the transit corridor via Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to European Union (EU) and Western Europe countries became one of the most used mixed migration routes in the Western Balkans, with more than 120,000 registered arrivals to the country reported by state authorities between January 2018 and May 2023. Mixed migration flows from Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as through Albania and Montenegro, merge in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on past mixed migration movement trends and future scenarios, it is expected that BiH will remain a viable route for irregular migration, smugglers and human traffickers.

DRC's objectives in the Western Balkans/Bosnia and Herzegovina

This project will contribute to a protection-sensitive response to the humanitarian needs of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers (hereinafter Persons of Concern – PoCs) in a mixed migration context in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), namely Una-Sana Canton (USC) and Sarajevo Canton (SC).

Since 2019, the DRC has been working closely with local health institutions in BiH to ensure access to healthcare services for Persons of Concerns (PoCs) such as migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. The organization has supported 12 local healthcare institutions to provide primary and specialized healthcare services, diagnostics, and hospital treatment. The DRC has been providing sanitary-epidemiological monitoring of TRCs and informal settlements, procurement and management of medical supplies, nursing care, and project administration.

The Action will work on successfully providing high-quality healthcare services to Persons of Concern (PoCs), with a particular focus on the most vulnerable individuals and those with severe medical conditions. The emphasis is on addressing medical emergencies, pediatric conditions, chronic illnesses, and communicable diseases. Through comprehensive approach that targets the unique health-seeking behavior of the people on the move, specifically in BiH, taking into account high turnover and poor health habits, DRC engages the institutional capacities of local Primary Health Centers and Cantonal Hospitals/University Clinics within its designated area of operation. The objective of the action ensures the uninterrupted delivery of high-quality healthcare assistance to the mixed migrant population, regardless of their migration status or country of origin.

Position: Medical Advisor

Level: non-management band G;

Project implementation period: April – December 2023

Duty Station: Sarajevo, with the field coverage of other locations in BiH impacted by mixed migrations(Una-Sana Canton, Sarajevo Canton, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Tuzla Canton and Republic of Srpska)

Period of engagement: July – December 2023

Basic functions Medical Advisor will be responsible for liaising with relevant Ministries of Health, Institutes for Public Health and Primary and Secondary Health Care Centers, ensuring quality control of service delivery, implementation of relevant local policies and standards, epidemiological monitoring and reporting including public health threats, as well as COVID-19 preventive measures. Will also be responsible for the advisory of DRC staff engaged in coordination and facilitation of health care delivery, pharmacy management, data encoding, and supporting medical/pediatric teams in all TRCs in BiH. DRC Medical Advisor will communicate and coordinate priority needs of health care actors for capacity building and strengthened local response in the view of envisaged transition to local services providers.

Reference: Medical Advisor refers to the DRC Country Direction, Head of Programme working in close coordination with the other members of the DRC team.

Specific duties and responsibilities:

• Assesses health care needs of Persons of Concern (PoCs), supervises their referrals to primary and secondary health-care treatment and advocates for their rights to health care;
• Mobilizes, motivates and advises local Primary Health Centre medical teams and direct health-care providers in their response and delivery of services, medicines and supplies under the national healthcare system;
• Mentors and supervises DRC staff engaged in coordination and facilitation of health care delivery by PHC medical teams in Temporary Reception Centers making them effective and responsive in action;
• Supports medical procurement process including the preparation of medical specifications, provision of medicines, provision of inputs to tender dossier, as well as evaluation and contract management;
• Overall management of medical stock inside TRC (pharmacy) in line with GPP.
• Manages and updates financial and administrative control system in place for payments committed and released by DRC BiH linked to the implementation of the health care component;
• Acts in close cooperation and strong co-ordination with health-related federal and cantonal authorities (including relevant ministries) and local level institutions (clinics, primary health centers and institutes of public health);
• Ensures that all health-related project documentation is handled and filled in accordance to DRC Operations Handbook;

In close coordination with the DRC BiH Country Director and Head of Programme and other involved staff, the Medical Advisor also performs the following activities:

• Ensures a strong collaboration and coordination with the project and/or program involved stakeholders, hereunder; donor representatives, federal/cantonal/local authorities, national and international organizations;
• Coordinates, plans and conducts health care-oriented meetings, ensuring information sharing between all concerned partners on relevant medical and/or health developments that might affect the situation in the transit reception centers, as well as public health;
• Assures medical technical/scientific accuracy of all health care and raise awareness materials;
• Prepares relevant reports (ad hoc, monthly, mid-year and annual reporting);
• Contributes to the preparation and planning of upcoming health program activities, based on supervision from Country Director and Head of Programme;

Qualifications & experience required

• Advisory and managing role in the health sector;
• Professional experience in the health sector as a Medical Doctor;
• Experience on refugee/migration and emergency related issues would be an asset;
• Involvement in health-related international or local organizations of humanitarian kind would be an asset;

• Additional broader health-related professional experience an advantage (Public Health, Global Health, Health policy and/or economics);

  Work experience

• At least 3 years of professional experience in the health sector as a Medical Doctor;

• Experience in advisory and managing role in the health sector;
• Experience in epidemiological monitoring and analysis

Key Competencies

• Degree of a Medical Doctor
• Capacity to mobilize, motivate and coach medical staff and other service providers;
• Stimulating, innovative and good communicator;
• Outstanding monitoring and reporting skills;
• Capability and willingness to work in a rapidly changing and challenging ambient, exposed to stressful and critical tasks;
• Ability to frequently travel to targeted areas;
• Full professional proficiency in English;
• Computer literacy (MS Office package, KOBO Toolbox, Google Forms);
• Valid driving license.