Back e-Health Policy Consultant

FHI 360/Philippines (www.fhi360.org) is in search of candidates for a eHealth Policy Consultant under a short-term work consultancy engagement status to join the USAID’s TBIHSS project in the Philippines.

About FHI 360:
FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender, youth, research, technology, communication, and social marketing- creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries and all U.S. states and territories.

Project Description:
The TB Innovations and Health Systems Strengthening (TB IHSS) Project is a 5-year USAID-funded project that aims to strengthen national and regional level implementation of the National TB Strategic Plan by providing state-of-the-art capacity building and technical expertise to scale-up TB and DR-TB prevention, detection, and treatment. The Project will identify and help implement proven approaches to improve prevention, increase case detection rates, decrease default rates, and increase treatment success and cure rates across the continuum of care.

The UHC law mandates the creation of an integrated system of primary care service delivery to guarantee the population health and well-being. To demonstrate the feasibility of integrated primary care, TBIHSS is collaborating with selected local government units (LGUs) in realizing/achieving TB care through the overall health system efficiency in terms of service delivery reach (coverage) and equity (key population) as stimulated by one of UHC’s key reforms called primary care provider networks (PCPNs) under the province- and city-wide health system (P/CWHS). Recognizing the crucial role of PCPNs that provide effective, equitable, and quality basic and essential health services, a critical requirement mandated by the UHC law includes the accreditation of these facilities under the comprehensive primary care benefit package (currently the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama or Konsulta package which is being expanded to include SDG-related benefit packages i.e. TB, Malaria, HIV, and Animal Bite). This interim COBP called Konsulta+SDG package will be demonstrated under the PCPNs in P/CWHS thus the need for network accreditation standards.

Detailed Description of Tasks to be Performed:
The eHealth Policy Consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Assess the market for Health Information Systems (HIS) and Electronic Health Records (EHRs),
• Reviewing contracts and engagement tools used by DOH Hospitals & Rural Health Units (RHUs) with providers.
• Provide cost estimates for DOH-deployed systems compared to market-available systems and summarize the terms of engagement.
• Assess the DOH's relationship and engagement with private HIS providers, adapting a framework for assessment and developing tools and metrics.
• Conduct interviews or discussions as appropriate, validating anonymized findings with the providers. Recommendations will be made for platforms and mechanisms to enhance engagement with ER/HIS providers.
• Develop guidance materials, including a document to guide public health care providers and heads of facilities in choosing HIS/EMRs.
• Recommend a template for multi-year managed services contracts for DOH-developed or partnerenhanced HIS, reviewing successful managed service IT contracts of relevant agencies and consulting the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
• Collaborate with legal expertise to review and draft the managed services IT TOR specifically tailored for the DOH KMITS.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated proficiency with using Microsoft Office Suite;
• Ability to analyze data, identify errors and prepare reports;
• Ability to solve problems, and implement corrective actions as needed;
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in collegial fashion with a wide range of stakeholders;
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail;
• Experience in scoping review of standards;
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively with stakeholders;
• Willingness to travel within the specified period

Required Education/Job Experience:

• Master’s degree in public policy, social sciences or its international equivalent or higher in public health, health sciences, social sciences or a related area
• At least eight-year experience working in health or any social development sector
• Experience in working with key stakeholders in Philippines strongly desired;
• With previous successful engagement in similar or related activities;
• Knowledge of USAID rules and regulations is an advantage

Target Engagement Period:

ASAP– September 30, 2023 (50 working days total) with possibility of extension