Quality & Patient Safety (PHC) Consultant

Contractual Arrangement : External consultant
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : ‎6 months
Job Posting : May ‎24, ‎2022, ‎8:00:‎49 AM
Closing Date : May ‎31, ‎2022, ‎4:59:‎00 PM
Primary Location : Egypt-Cairo
Organization : EM/UHS UHC/Health Systems
Schedule : Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of
applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

..
* Purpose of the Consultancy
This consultation is for the the development of a training course on quality
and safety in extreme adversity and conflict-affected settings.
* Background:
A growing understanding of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) target has
opted to demand more than expanded access to healthcare services and ensure
care quality and safety in all settings. Perhaps now more than ever, we need
to recognise the urgent need to address UHC in fragile, conflict-affected and
vulnerable (FCV) settings, a broad term describing situations of crisis, such
as those resulting from weak governance, natural disasters, epidemics, armed
struggles, and displacement of populations.
Poor-quality and unsafe healthcare practices burden ‎42.1 million patients
every year with adverse events at the global level (‎1). In Low- and Middle-
Income Countries (LMICs), between ‎5.7 and ‎8.4 million deaths annually are
attributed to poor quality of care, accounting for ‎15% of overall deaths in
these countries (‎2). In the current world, inadequate quality of care accounts
for more deaths than lack of access to services and leads to economic welfare
losses of $‎6 trillion (‎3).
Estimates indicate that ‎60% of preventable maternal deaths, ‎53% of deaths in
children under ‎5, and ‎45% of neonatal deaths take place in countries with
fragile settings. However, the experience in many such settings suggests the
quality agenda has often been relegated to "not now" status. Yet this approach
is misguided. Access to care that is ineffective, unsafe, and not trusted by
the communities it serves, risks significantly worse health outcomes,
increased vulnerability to further crises, a missed opportunity to build back
better, and represents a poor use of valuable health funding.
The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) represents a special case where ‎22
countries that host ‎645 million people face an unprecedented magnitude and
scale of crises and conflicts. In ‎2019, the WHO reported ‎14 graded emergencies
in ‎11 countries across the region. It is estimated that over ‎71 million people
need emergency healthcare within the region, including an average of ‎15
million internally displaced population (‎4). Consequently, the health systems
in the EMR show a need to acquire more resilience and end the fragility state
at the level of healthcare to cope with the current circumstance.
Achieved milestones
The World Health Organization (WHO), across all its regional, local, and
collaboration offices, has been relentlessly advocating health for all by all
in all settings. Many projects and initiatives have been in place to support
health systems in emergency contexts, such as identifying a minimum service
package for emergency countries, supporting health system recovery and
resilience, and the health development nexus. High-level collaborations were
initiated to support the work; the involved parties include WHO-EMRO, WHO-HQ,
UHS (AHS), HSEL, EMO, University of North Carolina (UNC).
The target of addressing Quality and Safety in Extreme Adversity (QSEA) was
initiated by conducting a scoping review to identify challenges, gaps, and
improvement measures for quality and safety in FCV settings. This review was
conducted by researchers at the UNC in coordination with WHO-EMRO. In
parallel, WHO-EMRO led a joint qualitative assessment of the situation in
seven countries within the EMR facing emergencies (‎5).
The outcomes of these efforts were comprehensively described in a drafted
action framework to address QSEA (‎6). The framework was refined by inputs from
a broad range of international, regional and national experts during a first
expert consultation held in February ‎2019 in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
Thirty-eight experts were involved in the consultation, representing the
perspectives of policymakers, healthcare professionals, NGOs' leaders,
frontline health workers, and academicians.
Based on those efforts, a set of tools for improvement has been developed and
drafted. These tools were distributed among a more extensive and diverse group
of experts at the global level requesting their prioritisation and inputs to
refine the tools further and update the drafted framework (‎7). The QSEA
framework was then field tested in selected EMR countries, including Libya and
Palestine. A second expert consultation was held in Qatar to refine the QSEA
framework and propose an action plan for dissemination across the region.
Furthermore, in the resolution of the 72nd World Health Assembly (WHA),
Patient Safety (PS) and quality of health care services during emergencies
were given an utmost priority in the global health agenda by holding a WHA
side event to address this particular challenge. It came as a response to the
urgent need to integrate quality and patient safety concepts into emergency
health response during extreme adversity (‎8).
Moreover, three seminal publications in ‎2018 have emphasised the need to
address quality and safety in emergency settings (‎3, ‎9, ‎10). The WHO-WB-OECD
global report affirmed the global consensus that quality health services must
be effective, safe, and people-centred, timely, equitable, integrated and
efficient (‎10). Attention to each of these inter-related components is
required as countries shape their health systems in the post-COVID era.
In ‎2021, WHO released a technical package on quality of care in fragile,
conflict-affected and vulnerable settings. The package is a product of years
of collaboration between WHO-EMRO, WHO-HQ, and UNC. It consists of a document
outlining a flexible approach to taking action (‎11), as well as an
accompanying tools and resources compendium (‎12) containing practical
resources to support the implementation of quality improvement interventions
in FCV settings.
This proposal is one of the four pillars of ongoing activities to strengthen
health systems in FCV and extreme adversity settings that aims to ensure the
provision of quality and safer care in FCVs. The three other pillars aim to
ensure standards health services delivery norms are set and defined among
health [partners serving FCV countries, allow expansion of service coverage,
by quickly scaling up a package of minimum interventions and improve
effectiveness and efficiency in health services delivery among health cluster
partners.
It will focus on developing health system resilience in emergencies from the
lens of quality and patient safety as priorities.
The aim is to develop a WHO-EMRO-led training designed and delivered in
collaboration with WHO-HQ, WHO-WHE department, HSEL, and UNC. The objectives
are:
* To undertake a Training Needs Assessment (TNA) in countries that face extreme adversity settings in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR)
* To identify priorities for training based on the TNA outcomes
* To devise training materials and content that cover the identified priority areas concerning quality and safety in FCV settings
* To design and provide the training as TOT to a selected number of participants from different emergency countries within the EMR
* To collect feedback and evaluation of the training materials and explore opportunities for its rollout and dissemination in other regions
* Planned timelines
Start Date: ‎5 June ‎2022
End Date: ‎5 December ‎2022
* Work to be performed
The project will incorporate different expertise, including WHO experts as
well as frontline health professionals. The proposed TORs are:
Output ‎1: Training needs assessment on the skills related to Quality and
Safety in Fragile, Conflict affected and Vulnerable (FCVs) settings
Task ‎1.1: conduct literature review at the regional and local levels, as
well as relevant global literature
Task ‎1.2: To review local policy documents and briefs when available in
countries that face emergencies in the EMR
Task ‎1.3: develop a survey and distribute among frontline health
professionals, policymakers, and experts in the field of public health
emergencies, quality, patient safety, and health system development
Task ‎1.4: collaborate/ liaise with WHO and other selected partners,
including the Global Health Cluster Groups, IOM, UNICEF, international NGOs,
and humanitarian aid agencies to validate the identified the quality and
safety in FCV priorities
Deliverable ‎1: report on the TNA analysis outcomes that includes a
narrative synthesis from the literature and policy review outcomes, expert
consultations, and survey outcomes. A thematic analysis will be applied to
group the identified gaps and needs.
Output ‎2: Training course on Quality and safety in FCVs
Task ‎2.1 Design the training structure: the analysis results will be the
core target of the proposed training course. develop modules to cover the
identified needs across the countries. A flexibility aspect will be considered
to contextualise the training according to each country 's needs.
Task ‎2.2 Develop of the training content and materials: the TNA results
and the literature review will feed the content of the training modules as per
the needs. The content will cover quality and patient safety priorities and
link those priorities with the broader aspect of health system building blocks
and existing frameworks.
Task ‎2.3 propose training methodologies in consultation with experts in
health education to identify the most effective tools and methods to deliver
the training modules and intended outcomes.
Deliverable ‎2.1: Training course material that includes clear guidance on
the recommended educational methodology as well as trainees ' evaluation
Output ‎3: Validation of the content and methodology of the course material
Task ‎3.1 : conduct a TOT course to validate the training content and
educational methods before rolling out to a broader audience. liaise with
relevant countries across the EMR to nominate potential trainees. This initial
TOT will be considered as a pilot test for validation.
Task ‎3.2 : update the course structure, modules, and content if needed
based on the feedback from the pilot test. A final version of the training
will be proposed by the end of this stage to be ready for dissemination.
Task ‎3.3: Coordinate with countries ' representatives and field experts
across the project to propose a dissemination strategy for the TOT course,.
conclude the efforts by proposing dissemination strategies to roll out the
training across the EMR as per the need.
Task ‎3.4: conduct an expert consultation with an advisory group to
validate the course 's final structure, materials, content, and dissemination
strategies in collaboration with WHO and partners across the region and
globally.
Deliverable ‎3.1: Validate training course material on Quality and Safety
in FCVs
Deliverable ‎3.2: Establish plan of action for the roll out of the course
across emergency countries in the EMR
Deliverable ‎3.3: Submit Consultancy final report

• Technical Supervision
  The selected Consultant will work on the supervision of:
  Responsible Officer:
  Dr Mondher Letaief RA QPS

Manager:

Dr Awad Mataria UHS Director

• Specific requirements


• Qualifications required:
  University Degree in Medical Science or equivalent in related fields (health
  management) for lower end of range at Band B level or Master's degree for
  higher end of range at band B level.


• Experience required:
  ‎5 years' experience on Patient safety and Quality of care and external
  evaluation of healthcare institutions. as well as work on quality in emergency
  settings for lower end of range at Band B level and ‎7 to ‎10 years of
  experience for higher end of range at band B level


• Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:
  Excellent knowledge of Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Frameworks (PSFHF)
  Skills in conducting PSFHF manual survey
  Skills in conducting surveys on health care institutions as per the PSFHF
  Standards


• Language requirements:
  English and/or Arabic (Read - Write - Speak / Expert or Intermediate)


• Place of assignment
  Where is the Consultant expected to perform her/his work (please pay
  particular attention to the visa requirements if any) Consultant will be
  working remotely - Does this require travel? NO


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


• Travel N/A
  No travel will be required, and the consultant will be working remotely.
  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.


• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.


• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.


• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.


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


• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.


• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.


• 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.