National Consultant to build a quality and patient safety culture that contributes to better health outcomes at primary care (PC) level

1. Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to build a quality and patient safety culture that contributes to better health outcomes at primary care (PC) level.

2. Background

Universal health coverage (UHC) is crucial for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and leaving no one behind. Achieving UHC through holistic PHC systems is guaranteed as 80 to 90% of the health services throughout a person’s lifetime will be through PHC.

Though Jordan, a growing country with a young population, is working hard towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) there are still gaps in providing equitable, effective, and affordable services. Recently, under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdulla the Second, the Economic Modernization Vision was launched to pave the way for accelerated sustainable growth of Jordan Economy while improving quality of life for all citizens. Health improvement came at the heart of this vision and areas of focus have been translated into the Universal Health Coverage/Health Security Roadmap coproduced by national stakeholders in 2022. There is now a high-level political commitment to implement the roadmap with focus on strengthening PHC for UHC.

Primary health care in the public sector in Jordan is mainly delivered through a network of facilities under MoH including 122 comprehensive health centers, 362 primary health centers, and 183 branch or village health centers. These health centers are intended to provide primary health service to the population in Jordan, which means that on average each one of these centers serves around 17,000 of the population. In addition, there are huge network of outpatient clinics in the private sector that provide primary healthcare to Jordan population.

Jordan’s primary health care system has several challenges that are related to different areas such as governance, human resources, financing, quality availability and accessibility of services, quality of care and patient safety, Infection prevention and control (IPC), information system and health technologies. In addition, the epidemiological transition, the high influx of refugees in the last decade, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic have overwhelmed the system.

3. Work to be performed

Output 1: Propose An action plan for project implementation with clear timeline (****3 days)

Task 1: To draft an inception report on the methodology in terms of literature review, tools development, stakeholders’ involvement.

Deliverable 1.1: Submit an Inception report with a clear workplan and timeframe for both quality assurance and IPC activities.

Output 2: A contextualized Quality Control Monitoring Tools (based on the WHO 34 selected quality indicators for PHC in Jordan) and IPC monitoring tools based on WHO Assessment Tool on IPC Minimum Requirements for PHC Facilities delivered (****15 days)

Task 1: To develop PHC Quality Control Monitoring Tool, based on the 34 WHO PHC selected quality control indicators for Jordan.

Task 2: to update the current set of indicators on IPC at PHC level, based on WHO guidelines Strengthening infection prevention and control in primary care: A collection of existing standards, measurement and implementation resources, Infection prevention and control in primary care: a toolkit of resources (who.int) and the WHO Assessment Tool on IPC Minimum Requirements for PHC Facilities

Deliverable2.1: Submit a set of indicators of quality control and patient safety and IPC at PHC level developed and endorsed by MoH.

Output 3: The current available IPC SOPs, based on the developed MoH national IPC guidelines updated (****20 days)

Task 1: Based on the recently developed and adopted IPC national guidelines, update the current SOPs for different PHC center types and available clinics.

Deliverable 3.1: Develop Updated SOPs for the different levels of PC centers and the different available clinics.

Output 4: Plan to formulate functional quality assurance teams at PC centers developed (****30 days)

Task 1: To draft terms of reference for quality assurance teams and suggest key members of the team

Task 2: Based on WHO guidelines and other available resources develop training materials targeting quality assurance teams at PCs level

Deliverable 4.1: Develop terms of reference for quality assurance teams and related training materials developed

4. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Master’s degree in Medical Science or in related fields (health fields).

Experience:

7 years’ experience on Patient Safety and Quality of care and IPC

Skills/Technical skills and knowledge:

- Excellent knowledge of quality, patient safety and IPC guidance

- Excellent Skills in developing training materials

Languages and level required: Expert level in English and Arabic

5. Location

Amman – Jordan (on-site)

6. Planned timelines (Subject to confirmation)

(68 working days)

Start Date: 1 August 2024

End Date: 15 November 2024

7. Medical clearance

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

8. Travel

The consultant is not expected to travel.

Additional Information

· This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

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