BACKGROUND

The WHO WPRO For the Future vision challenges WHO and its Member States to develop new ways of working to address the health challenges of today and tomorrow, including through innovation and taking a systems approach. Digital technologies present opportunities to revolutionise health services and respond to existing and emerging challenges, accelerating progress towards Universal Health Coverage.

Digital technologies are increasingly underpinning almost all aspects of daily life, including health services. Health systems in both high resourced and low resourced countries have begun to embrace the transformative power of information and communication technology, from electronic health records that integrate and organize medical data and enable providers to share it easily, to mobile technology that spurs better informed decisions by people and health workers in rural areas and hospitals. There are many digital health solutions already in place, and many more are planned.

Legal and regulatory actions can be a powerful policy intervention to enable the appropriate, effective use of digital technologies in health and orient them towards Universal Health Coverage. Possible actions include articulating and enshrining the rights and entitlements of users and communities to access and receive the benefits of digital health technologies, regulating their adoption and use to ensure quality, effectiveness, and accessibility, and governing the collection and use of personal information. Government strategies need to take into account the expanding role of non-state actors, such as private service providers, in developing and implementing digital health interventions.

The Western Pacific Regional Action Agenda on Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Health in the Sustainable Development was endorsed by Member States at the 69th session of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (RC69) in October 2020. The action agenda provides guidance to WHO and countries on prioritising action areas, improving processes, and enhancing capacities of stakeholders.

Direct support to countries on the strengthening of legal frameworks for health is a key priority for the HLE unit. In many countries, health laws are out of date and not consistent with evidence and modern practices and technologies. As a result, existing domestic legal frameworks are often inadequate to cope with the vast potential implications of the increasing adoption of digital technologies in health.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The general purpose of this consultancy is to support the Health Law and Ethics unit in assisting Member States of the Western Pacific to strengthen legal frameworks towards achieving health in the Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically, the consultant will support HLE to improve the enabling environment for digital health in the region by providing technical guidance to Member States on building legal and regulatory frameworks to enable and govern the use of digital technologies in health.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT/ METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Output 1: Technical guidance on strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks for digital health technologies in the Western Pacific Region

Deliverable 1.1: Finalise a series of 5-10 draft technical briefs for WHO and country officials on legal and regulatory dimensions of key issues related to digital health technologies, including equity and digital divide, privacy, data governance, and engagement of private sector providers.

Deliverable 1.2: Develop and implement a dissemination strategy for the technical briefs, including a series of webinars for internal and external audiences.

Deliverable 1.3: Develop a pilot version of a tool to support Member States to adopt a systems approach to build legal and regulatory environments for digital health in line with their national digital health strategies.

Deliverable 1.4: Develop a concept note for piloting of the tool at country level.

Output 2: Provide technical support to strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks for digital health technologies

Deliverable 2.1: Provide guidance and direct technical support to Member States, in coordination with WHO officials, on legal and regulatory actions for the implementation of digital health strategies, as requested.

Deliverable 2.2: Provide technical input to WHO programmes, including with respect to the role of digital technologies in expanding access and facilitating governance for primary health care as part of regional strategy development.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education
University and/or postgraduate degree in law, public policy, public health, or similar.

Experience
Minimum 5 years' experience in public health law, including legal reform for health, health systems strengthening, and digital health; work at country level preferred, work with governments and/or intergovernmental organisations preferred. Experience in countries in the Western Pacific Region and/or in developing settings is an advantage.

Skills/Technical skills and Knowledge
Essential: Experience in legal research and analysis relating to digital technology and related issues affecting the health sector, including privacy and confidentiality, data security, and digital equity.

Desirable: Technical expertise in developing legal frameworks for digital health.

Language
Proficiency in oral and written English is required.


Competencies

• • Communicating in a credible, effective, and culturally competent way
• • Moving forward in a changing environment
• • Producing results

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Contract duration

03 January 2022 until 30 June 2022

Place of assignment

Home based

Travel

While the place of assignment is principally at the Consultant’s home base, the Consultant may be requested to undertake travel overseas as part of the engagement.

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.

Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Remarks

All rights in the work, including ownership of the original work and copyright thereof, shall be vested in WHO, which reserves the right (a) to revise the work, (b) to use the work in a different way from that originally envisaged, or (c) not to publish or use the work.

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < [email protected] > by 23 December 2021

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 159650 as subject to all submission.  Only successful candidates will be contacted.