Development of the paper on Governance and Policy for Medicines and Medical Products in the Western Pacific Region

BACKGROUND

Access to medicines, vaccines and other medical products requires comprehensive national policies and strategies, together with legal and regulatory frameworks that meet health system needs and cover the entire product lifecycle—from R&D to quality assurance, regulatory approvals and market authorization, supply chain management, and prescribing, dispensing and use. These policies and strategies should balance public health needs with economic and social development objectives, and promote collaboration with other sectors, partners and stakeholders.

Over the years, the increasing complexity of new therapies and medical innovations have challenged governments in many ways including: a) ensuring safety, quality and efficacy of medicines and medical products; b) identifying optimal solutions to adopt and use new and innovative therapies consistent with the objective of maximizing patient outcomes and subject to resources available;  and c) ensuring the capacity of health systems to optimize the benefit of existing and new therapies to individuals and populations.

The WHO in the Western Pacific Region will propose to the 71st Regional Committee, convening in October 2020, the adoption of the Framework for Policy and Governance for Medicines and Medical Products in the Western Pacific Region. The Framework will provide guidance to Member States to develop and strengthen policy and governance mechanisms to ensure equitable access and optimization of medicines and medical products, as key to improving health outcomes and achieving universal health coverage.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

To support the Essential Medicines and Health Technologies (EMT) to develop the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific agenda item on Governance and Policy for Medicines and Medical Products in the Western Pacific Region. The contractor will write the draft agenda paper and will support EMT to take stock on various regional and global initiatives on policies and governance mechanisms to ensure equitable access and optimization of medicines and medical products, as key to improving health outcomes and achieving universal health coverage.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Under the supervision of Coordinator, Essential Medicines and Health Technologies, the contractual partner will deliver the following outputs:

• • Analytical research and literature review on governance for medicines initiatives in countries of the Western Pacific Region (including country case studies)
• • Support the development of technical document on the Framework for Policy and Governance for Medicines and Medical Products in the Western Pacific Region

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

• • Conduct analytical and research work on governance for medicines (including literature review and/or country level case studies)
• • Support the preparation and the development of background paper and meeting materials;
• • Drafting of agenda paper

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential:  Post-graduate degree at the Master level in pharmaceutical sciences, public health or relevant health-related field.

Desirable: Postgraduate degree in regulatory sciences.

EXPERIENCE

Essential: Minimum seven years of experience in policy and governance with proven experience of countries in the Western Pacific Region.

Desirable: Experience in writing; previous work experience with WHO. Knowledge of working in the Pacific Island countries is considered a plus.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• • In-depth knowledge on policy development, access to medicines, health technology assessment, pharmaceutical regulations
• • Knowledge on various regional and global regulatory harmonization initiatives
• • Ability to synthesize knowledge and effectively express ideas in writing

LANGUAGES

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential

COMPETENCIES

• • Technical Expertise
• • Communication
• • Producing Result
• • Knowing and Managing Yourself
• • Ensuring Effective Use of Resources 

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV and Expression of Interest/cover letter to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at <wproungm@who.int > by 30 April 2020. 

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. 106843 as subject to all submission.  Only successful candidates will be contacted.