World Health Organisation Tender

Background Lao Pdr Has So Far Managed To Contain The Covid-19 Pandemic Within Its Borders. With 49 Cases Confirmed Since The Start Of 2020 And No Community Transmission, The Country Has Begun To Lift Some Public Health Measures. The Health System Is Readying Itself For The Next Phases Of Covid-19 Response, Including A Country-wide Vaccination Campaign, Aiming To Vaccinate 70 Percent Of The Population Against Covid-19 By The Year 2023. In Many Countries, The Cost Of The Ongoing Covid-19 Response Comes At A Time Of Decreasing Fiscal Space, As Government Revenues Decrease And The Need For Stimulus Spending Increases. Higher Unemployment May Reduce Contributions To Social Protection Schemes. Governments Need To Finance The Covid-19 Response While Also Maintaining Essential Health Services. In 2019, The Ministry Of Health Of Lao Pdr Began Developing A Health Financing Strategy For The Period 2021-2025, In Support Of The Health Sector Development Plan And Health Sector Reform Strategy, And With The Overarching Goal Of Universal Health Coverage. The Strategic Objectives Of The Health Financing Strategy Are Even More Important And Urgent In The Context Of The Covid-19 Pandemic. However, Priority Actions May Need To Be Updated To Reflect The Health And Economic Impacts Of Covid-19. While Who Is Supporting The Ministry Of Health In Finalizing The Health Financing Strategy 2021 – 2025, The National Health Insurance Bureau Requested Who Support To Review And Update The Health Insurance Strategy Which Expired In 2020, To Reflect Ongoing Discussion On National Health Insurance Reform And The Impact Of Covid-19. The National Health Insurance Bureau Also Requested Who Support On Undertaking A Policy Review Based On The The Results Of The Hospital Costing Exercises Completed In Early 2021. Regarding Hospital Autonomy, The Moh Is Considering Granting Public Hospitals More Autonomy Over Their Operations In The Future (including Over Financing, Procurement, Staffing, Etc.). While The Scope Of The Future Autonomy Is Yet To Be Defined In Detail, The Moh Plans To Pilot Hospital Autonomy In Central Hospitals As Of The Year 2021. In The Context Of The Planned Hospital Autonomy, The Department Of Finance (dof) Has Requested Who Support On Establishing Benchmarks Aiming At Standardizing User Fees In Public Hospitals.   This Consultancy Will Be Important To Support Urgent Requests From Moh In Moving Forward Strategic Health Financing In The Context Of Covid-19 And Beyond.   Purpose/specific Objective Of The Activity To Support The Ministry Of Health To Pursue Health Financing Reforms And National Health Insurance Reforms To Improve Efficiency, Equity, Accountability And Sustainability Of Health Systems In Lao Pdr Towards Universal Health Coverage In The Context Of Covid-19 And Beyond.   Description Of Activities To Be Carried Out To Develop, Based On The Results Of The Costing Exercise, Benchmarks On Unit Cost For Standardizing User Fees In Central Hospitals In The Context Of Hospital Autonomy; Undertake Consultations With Central Hospitals And Relevant Departments; And Seek Agreement On The Proposed Benchmarks Among All Stakeholders Concerned. To Complete, In Close Collaboration With Wpro Team, Wb, And Unicef, The Covid-19 Vaccine Costing Estimates Derived With The Who/wpro Costing Tool For The Different Scenarios Under Consideration, And Regularly Update The Cost Estimates As New Information Is Made Available. To Support Nhib On Reviewing And Finalizing The National Health Insurance Strategy 2021 – 2025 Based On The Comments Received From National Stakeholders And Development Partners To Revise And Refine The Police Briefs Related To The Costing Exercise Based On Consultations Within Moh And With Development Partners, And To Support The Dissemination Of The Policy Briefs And The Respective Policy Recommendations.   Methods To Carry Out The Activity Deliverables. Monthly Report Of Activities, Including 1) A Report With Benchmarks On Unit Medical Costs For Setting Standardized User Fees In Central Hospitals; 2) The Results And Regular Updates Of The Costing Of The National Vaccine Deployment Plan Obtained With The Who/wpro Covid-19 Vaccine Costing Tool For Different Scenarios; 3) A Finalized Health Insurance Strategy 2021-2025; And 4) A Finalized Version Of The Policy Briefs On The Costing Exercise   Qualifications & Experience Education Essential:  master's Degree Level From A Recognized University, In Public Health, International Development, Social Sciences, Management Sciences Or Other Related Field.   Experience Essential: Minimum Of 10 Years’ Experience Related To Health Financing, Health Economics, Or Social Health Protection.   Technical Skills & Knowledge Sound Understanding Of Health Financing, Health Economics Or Social Health Protection In Development Contexts; Quantitative Skills, Including Statistical Analysis; Excellent Writing Skills; Ability To Interact With Government Counterparts.   Languages Excellent Speaking And Writing Skills In English Required   Competencies Communicating In A Credible And Effective Way. Respecting Agreed Timelines And Producing Results.   Additional Information: • Due To Travel Restrictions, Only Those Who Are Presently In Lao Pdr May Be Considered. • Duration Of Contract Is For 60 Working Days (15 April 2021 - 31 July 2021)   Applications Qualified And Interested Specialists Should Submit Their Cv {for Individual Contractors} Or Company Profile {for Institutional Applications} And Expression Of Interest {cover Letter} To The Supply Officer Through Wp Ro Ungm At < Wproungm@who.int > By 31 March 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. 124115 As Subject To All Submission. only Successful Candidates Will Be Contacted.