EDM, Health Tech & Regulatory Aspects Officer

Purpose of the Position

To support the Ministry of Health and other key stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector including traditional medicine to develop, implement and monitor national policies and improve access to safe and good quality health products including medicines, vaccines, blood and blood products, medical oxygen, medical devices including invitro diagnostics which are rationally used by monitoring the sector and assessing problem areas to define technical support to be provided and ensure an integrated and appropriate technical support to the country.

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate unit or field activity (Overview of the programme):

Under the WHO Representative, provide support and guidance for the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the National Policies to help improve access to essential medicines and other health technologies and assure their safety, quality and rational use; develop and manage the organization’s programme of technical cooperation at country level and coordinate the Organization’s assistance to improve access to health technologies through the strengthening of the supply chain for health products, regulatory systems support and antimicrobial resistance activities.

Organizational Context (Describe the work environment, the role of the individual within the team – team member, specialist, adviser, facilitator, coordinator/manager, representative, expert, authority in the field, etc.; available guidelines and degree of independence in decision making, and nature and purpose of contact within and outside the Organization):

Supervised by the ULC Cluster Team Leader, under the overall guidance of the WHO Representative in the country and working closely with counterparts at the respective Regional Office and HQ, the incumbent will provide technical support to the Government in scaling up the capacity of the Ministry of Health, at all levels, to address challenges related to access, quality and use of health products and technologies.

Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to achieve main objectives; include main achievements expected):

1.Facilitate collaboration between the ULC Cluster and stakeholders in the health sector to help develop, adapt, implement, and monitor national policies for health products and technologies and improve access to and use of these technologies, including monitoring of and advice on the impact of relevant trade agreements and globalization on access to health products

2.Promote instruments for effective medicines regulation and quality assurance systems to promote access to and rational use of good quality, safe and effective health technologies through the review of policies, adaptation of guidelines, norms and standards and technical cooperation with the national regulatory agency and promote laboratory quality assurance systems.

3.Provide guidance on financing the supply and increasing the affordability of health products and technologies and raise awareness and provide guidance on cost-effective and rational use of these technologies with a view to improving access and use by health professionals and consumers

4.Promote and advocate for financial protection for Universal Health Coverage for health products and promote integrated health service delivery by development, implementation, and monitoring of policies to improve patient safety, client satisfaction and participation of patients and the community in quality governance structures

5.Ensure the provision of the required technical assistance for country programmes for successful implementation of interventions and advocate for and mobilize resources for programme implementation from within the country, the regional and headquarters level of WHO.

6.Assist in monitoring the pharmaceutical sector to assess problem areas and help define technical support to be provided taking into consideration evidence-based information and best practises in the region.

7.Perform any other tasks for the provision of technical support for the development, implementation, and monitoring of national policies to improve access to products and technologies and promote quality assurance and quality of care in the country.

Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages

Education (Qualifications):

Essential: University degree in medicine, pharmacy or related pharmaceutical sciences from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable: Specialized training in regulation of medical products, emergency management, international aid or humanitarian principles.

Experience:

Essential: At least 5 years of practical experience in planning, implementing, monitoring, and supervising of Essential Medicines activities at national or regional or district level.

Desirable: Experience in implementation of public health programmes with emphasis on developing and implementing national Policies on Health Technologies and Regulation of Health Products would be an added advantage.

Languages:

Essential: Excellent knowledge of the English.

Desirable: Working knowledge any other UN language. Knowledge of local language(s).

Other Skills (e.g. IT):

Knowledge of office software applications.

Functional Skills/Knowledge

•Speak and write clearly, adapting communication style and content so they are appropriate to the needs of the intended audience

•Keep others informed of the key and relevant issues through reports, publications, and documentation of best practices

•Remain productive when under pressure

•Monitor progress against objectives and take corrective actions necessary

•Produce high quality results

•Work collaboratively with team members to achieve results

•Develop strategic plans into clearly defined objectives that take account of changing circumstance

•Identify priorities and define realistic objectives and timeliness to achieve them

•Quickly re-allocate resources and reset priorities in response to unexpected events

•Promote WHO’s mission and programmes

WHO Competencies

•Building and Promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

•Producing results

•Ensuring effective use of resources

•Fostering integration and teamwork

•Moving forward in a changing environment