BACKGROUND

Equitable access to health products is a global priority. The Sustainable Development Goals target 3.8 aims to achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

The issue lies with high prices of new pharmaceuticals and rapidly changing markets for health products that place increasing pressure on all health systems’ ability to provide access to quality health care. Moreover, the COVID-19 situation challenged the health systems further in providing access to safe, effective and quality therapeutics and vaccines.

WHO’s comprehensive health systems approach to increasing access to health products is guided by a series of World Health Assembly (WHA) and Regional Committee resolutions. In May 2018, the Seventy-first WHA acknowledged the need to address the global shortage of and access to medicines and vaccines. The Assembly requested a road map report, outlining WHO’s work on access to medicines and vaccines for 2019–2023. The road map consists of two strategic areas to support access to health products: 1) ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of health products, and 2) improving equitable access to health products.

This work aims to assist WHO in monitoring pricing of COVID-19 vaccines and other essential commodities and forecast of supply. The consultant is also expected to provide technical support to regulatory systems strengthening of medical devices as well as COVID-19 response of the Regional Office.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

This consultancy will support the Regulatory Systems Strengthening (RSS) Team of the Essential Medicines and Health Technologies (EMT) Unit in supporting the COVID-19 response in the Region by providing technical assistance in monitoring prices and forecasting supplies of COVID-19 vaccines and other essential commodities. The consultant will also support  over-all work on strengthening regulatory systems for medical devices.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Under the supervision of the Coordinator, EMT and Medical Officer, RSS/EMT, the consultant will be performing the following tasks:

• • support RSS/EMT in monitoring pricing of COVID-19 vaccines and other essential commodities
• • monitor forecast  and actual deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines  and other essential commodities
• • coordinate and support EMT in strengthening regulatory systems for medical devices;
• • develop briefing notes, presentations and other related documents; and
• • perform any other duties as assigned by the pillar lead; Incident Manager and Regional Director.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential: Minimum university degree in pharmacy, medicine, public health or other related sciences from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable: Advanced degree in pharmacy, public health, epidemiology or related field from a recognized university.

EXPERIENCE

Essential: Minimum of five years of work experience in public health, health services, research on epidemiology, vaccines, and/or infectious diseases.

Desirable:  Previous experience with WHO or other UN agencies. Previous international experience or health cluster partners

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• • Excellent communication skills
• • Excellent analytical, planning and organizational skills
• • Ability to work in a team with limited supervision
• • Ability to work under pressure

LANGUAGES

Proficient in written and spoken English.

COMPETENCIES

• • Technical Expertise
• • Communication
• • Producing Result
• • Fostering Integration and teamwork

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Place of assignment

If travel permits, the consultant will travel to work in the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in Manila, Philippines.

Medical clearance

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

Contract duration

6 months

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} 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. 159566 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.