JOB DESCRIPTION:
A. Background
The Government of Pakistan is committed to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and on the progress to ensure equitable access to essential health care. This commitment is clearly stated in the National Health Vision 2016-2025 which aims to improve the health of all Pakistanis, particularly women and children by providing universal access to affordable quality health services, delivered through a resilient and responsive health system.
The provision of essential health services is also underscored in the 12th Five-Year Plan (health chapter), and National Action Plan (2019-23). To translate the government commitment into action, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (M/o NHSR&C) established a collaboration with the Disease Control Priorities-Edition 3 (DCP3) Secretariat and the World Health Organization (WHO) on the development of an essential package of health services based on localized evidence and considering the DCP3 recommended interventions.
A roadmap for the development of UHC benefit package for Pakistan was developed following a joint WHO and DCP3 mission in January 2019. Around the same time, the M/o NHSR&C initiated a process to review already existing essential health services in Pakistan.
Pakistan is an LMIC and the review therefore focused on the availability of the DCP3 EUHC interventions. Overall, 135 (62%) of the 218 EUHC interventions are available in health facilities although most of these interventions are not universally accessible in the country. Major gaps in services were observed at community and PHC center level. Only 42, less than one fifth of the 218 EUHC interventions, are generally available. Most of the generally available health services are in the RMNCH and communicable diseases areas.
Availability of essential medicines at the end user level is one of the key interventions of UHC package. Stock availability at the health facility level is one of the key challenges in the health sector of Pakistan. A robust supply chain management system with trained human resource can play a pivotal role for improving stock availability at health facilities level across the country. To achieve the target of supply chain management under UHC, the M/o NHSR&C considers the Procurement & Supply Chain Management (PSCM) functions an imperative area to help achieve the basic theme of UHC, and therefore decided to hire services of an incumbent with following detailed TORs:
B. Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of Health System Specialist in Pakistan and overall PSCM Advisor, the incumbent will have the following duties and responsibilities:
- Planning and establish the implementation plan for the identified interventions under the country office at HPSIU;
- Collaborate with the internal and external partners and stakeholders on the implementing actions, issues and critical interventions, linkages and coordination of project activities to meet the desired outcomes;
- Plan, manage, monitor, and oversee the different steps and stages of execution, take decisions and timely actions to ensure results are achieved;
- Plan and manage resources (financial and human resources) to undertake the capacity building initiatives for provincial and district level staff to strengthen PSCM;
- Propose new initiatives and areas for support based on changing trends, priorities, political and economic conditions bring innovative ideas to improve the procurement, supply chain/ logistics management all across the functional entities;
- Help provincial health departments to establish a centralized procurement management body for the procurements of all vertical programs;
- Be responsible for required and other reports (progress, procurement, logistics etc) for management information, oversight and actions needed;
- Help train the relevant provincial and district staff for gathering data to run the quantification/ forecasting exercises;
- Help train the relevant provincial and district staff for transparent and competitive procurements;
- Monitor progress and identify risks for timely action and early resolution if required table the issues to senior management;
- Plan and oversee the implementation of and other evaluation to address any design or implementation issues.
C. REMUNERATION
Market competitive remuneration package will be offered keeping in due considerations of education, relevant experience and contributions made in the field of procurement & supply chain management by the selected bidder/ candidate.
D. Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Promotes high values and ethical standards (tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation, impartiality etc);
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development.
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral).
- Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners; &
- Respectful and helpful relations with all the staff of stakeholders.
E. Required Qualifications
Education:
- Master’s in Public Administration, Business Administration, Pharmacy, Supply Chain Management, or relevant field.
Experience:
- A minimum of 12 years of demonstrated work experience in the areas of procurement, supply chain and logistics management (all inclusive) and 4 years of relevant and responsible work experience in procurement management in the area of health service delivery.
- Knowledge of in-country procurement laws with good understanding of reproductive health logistics management.
- Experience to provide support in development of procurement and supply chain policies for the provincial and district level staff.
Language:
- Fluency in English as well as the national language of the country (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of at-least two local languages (Urdu, Pashto, Punjabi, Sindhi, Brahvi, Balochi Dari, Sraiki etc) is a must.
Other skills:
- Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Email, Internet, Microsoft Teams, Database Management, and preferably program management applications; comprehension of different data sets.
Period of Performance and LOE
The expected duration of the assignment is (06) six months, with LOE 120 days.