BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to modern human and veterinary medicine and food security. Antimicrobials play a crucial role in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, but their overuse and misuse are associated with increasing AMR and poses great ecological risk.

In line with the Global Action Plan on AMR, the PNG Government endorsed their National Action Plan on AMR 2019-2023 in August 2019. Strategic objective 5 of the Plan aims to strengthen appropriate access to and optimise the use of antimicrobial medicines, with the development of national antimicrobial guidelines for human use a key deliverable and necessary tool to measure and align antimicrobial use against best evidence.

The PNG NDoH last updated the standard treatment guidelines (STGs) for adults in 2012 and for children in 2016. These guidelines include signs and symptoms, investigations, treatment and referral advice for some common infectious diseases. However, these guidelines do not cover all infection topics, provide guidance on dosing in patients with non-standard pharmacokinetics, or take into consideration local patterns of AMR in key pathogens. Similarly, the Essential Medicines List (EML) is required to align with the antimicrobial guidelines.

The development of the first standalone antimicrobial guidelines will address gaps and complement other investments and momentum in AMR and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in PNG currently. This technical assistance will ensure the timely development of the antimicrobial guidelines and updating of the EML to guide the selection, procurement, prescribing and use of antimicrobials in the human health sector in PNG.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The general objective of this technical assistance is to support National Department of Health (NDoH) Papua New Guinea (PNG) in developing the PNG Antimicrobial Guideline.

Specifically, this APW aims to coordinate the development and finalization of the inaugural PNG Antimicrobial Guideline.

• • To develop separate national human health antimicrobial prescribing (standard treatment) guidelines based on best available evidence and expert opinion regarding antimicrobial treatment and prophylaxis in PNG;   
• • To provide guidance to prescribers on antimicrobial treatment and prophylaxis on the optimal choice, route of administration, dose, frequency and duration if an antimicrobial is required;
• • To recommend antimicrobial treatment and prophylaxis based on local antimicrobial resistance and use information; and, 
• • To provide guidance necessary for updating the national Essential Medicines List to ensure access to antimicrobials recommended in the national antimicrobial prescribing guidelines.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

The supplier/APW partner, in coordination and close collaboration with NDOH and WHO Papua New Guinea, will undertake a programme of work to develop the Antimicrobial Guidelines 2022 and review the essential medicines list in PNG, along with updating the Medical and Dental Catalogue. Below are the outputs and deliverables expected in this technical assistance.

Output 1: Stakeholder mapping and gap analysis

• • Deliverable 1.1: Stakeholder mapping and gap analysis report

Output 2: Development of the guidelines and review of EML/Medical and Dental Catalogue

• • Deliverable 2.1: Work plan for the development of antimicrobial guideline
• • Deliverable 2.2: Terms of reference and membership of Guideline Writing Committee
• • Deliverable 2.3: Report on recommendations for updated Essential Medicines List and Medical and Dental Catalogue
• • Deliverable 2.4: Completed Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee Application Forms for the proposed addition/ deletion/ modification in the Essential Medicines List/Medical and Dental Catalogue
• • Deliverable 2.5: Final draft of the Antimicrobial Guideline for national level approval

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

Phase 1: Stakeholder mapping and gap analysis

• • Identification of relevant public and private sector stakeholders
• • Identification of relevant existing national guidelines and procedures
• • Work with the NDoH to identify a national focal point to coordinate the development of the antimicrobial guideline
• • Confirm the scope of work with national counterparts

Phase 2: Development of the Guidelines and review of EML/Medical and Dental Catalogue

• • Support the creation of a Guideline Writing Committee
• • Work with the national focal point to convene relevant Guideline Writing Committee meetings
• • Provide technical expertise to support content development of guidelines
• • Use published and unpublished data and references to support content creation of the guidelines
• • Finalise content of the guidelines with consensus of the Guideline Writing Committee
• • Review PNG EML and Medical and Dental Catalogue to harmonise with content of PNG antimicrobial guidelines
• • Facilitate submission of application and necessary documentation to the Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee in relation to proposed inclusion/deletion/modification of antimicrobials and other medicines in the EML/Medical and Dental Catalogue 
• • Submission of the draft guideline for national level endorsement

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:  Expertise in infectious diseases, clinical microbiology, antimicrobial stewardship, clinical pharmacy or related disciplines

EXPERIENCE

Essential: Relevant professional experience in antimicrobial stewardship, development or review of treatment guidelines and essential medicines list in LMICs, and training of health care workers in LMICs

Desirable: Previous experience working with health authorities and public health decision makers in PNG, writing antimicrobial treatment guidelines, interpreting and synthesizing antimicrobial surveillance data to inform policy and practice  

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Essential: Demonstrated expertise in writing guidelines and conducting essential medicine list review; knowledge of governance systems, hospital, community and private clinical practice, preferably in PNG; strong skills in project coordination as evidenced by ability in coordinating stakeholders and facilitating workshops, interviews and meetings; skills in training and mentorship of health care workers; good analytical thinking and academic writing skills

Desirable: Successful engagements and projects with the NDoH or in PNG previously

LANGUAGES

Fluent in written and spoken English

COMPETENCIES

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

SUBMISSIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit the following documents to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < [email protected] > and < [email protected] > by 16 February 2022

• • Company Profile {for institutional applications}
• • Technical proposal, with the following accomplished forms as indicated in the attached Request for Proposal (RFP)
  • Annex 1: Acknowledgement Form
  • Annex 2: Confidentiality Undertaking
  • Annex 3: Proposal Completeness Form
  • Annex 6: Self-Declaration Form
• • Financial proposal

Please use Tender Notice No. WPRO/2022-02/PNG/165845 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Last day of receiving queries for this tender is on 9 February 2022