Crown Agents
About the role
Job Title: Digital Health Expert
Location: Guyana
Start date: 15th September 2022
End date: 31st December 2022
LOE (#days): Up to75 (subject to review by the client)
Applicants must be based in Guyana to be considered. No application from candidates not based in Guyana will be considered.
Background:
Though Guyana met its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets for nutrition, child health (under five years of age), and communicable diseases, it continues to experience maternal and infant mortality rates (less than one year of age) that are among the highest in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region. The maternal mortality ratio is estimated at 121 per 100,000 live births and the infant mortality rate is estimated at 23 per 1,000 live births. Most infant deaths occur in the neonatal period (up to 28 days after birth). To manage this, the country is looking at strengthening its supply chain systems that support the forecasting, procurement, storage, distribution, and availability of essential maternal, child and neonatal health commodities. A first step to strengthening the supply chain systems will be an assessment of the existing supply chain mechanisms, process flows for forecasting, procurement and distribution at all supply chain levels and propose steps the MOH should take to implement an electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMS).
Crown Agents is preparing to bid for the Health Facilities Supply Chain Assessment Consultancy Services in support to the improvement of Maternal and Child Health Services of the Ministry of Health, Cooperative Republic of Guyana. The programme will require the expertise of a Digital Health Expert. Reporting into a Technical Health Team Leader and working closely with Supply Chain Expert, the Digital Health Expert will provide technical assistance to MoH on assessing the current in-country digital health landscape, design and cost suitable information system improvement solutions and identify capacity building opportunities to strengthen health service delivery in selected regions with specific focus on patient centric procurement, inventory management and distribution data flows.
Main Project Activities
- Review of the current Logistics Management System (LMS) inclusive of, but not limited to, a mapping and review of the current process flows related to forecasting, procurement and distribution of the different types of commodities (assuming different commodities might have different process flows).
- Conduct an evaluation on the current Logistic Management System from different perspectives including those of the health facilities, regional hubs and health departments, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and the patients/clients. To carry-out this activity, the consultancy will conduct interviews and/or focal points with the different stakeholders.
- Outline any limitations encountered during the review and list recommendations – particularly regarding improvements needed in process flows and how to achieve them (e.g., participatory design of new process flows, training, supervision, etc.).
- Prepare a report on aspects that the MoH should take into consideration to implement an electronic Logistic Management System (eLMS), including the selection of the most appropriate electronic solution, given Guyana’s context, the acquisition of hardware and software, the establishment of an implementation plan (e.g., pilots, evaluations, phased approach), the definition of the stakeholders that should be involved in each phase of the project, etc.
- Quick assessment of the existing gaps to carry-out the implementation of an eLMIS.
- Recommend viable options for an electronic logistics management information system (eLMIS) for the supply chain taking into consideration the geographical context and infrastructural capacity of Guyana.
- Prepare a costed report on the implementation of an electronic Logistic Management System with clear indications of the different types of resources needed. The costed implementation plan should be disaggregated by regions and resource needs, that is, fix cost, capital cost and recurrent cost by year.
- Recommend strategies to support the development of public/private collaboration to strengthen public health supply chain management systems for drugs and medical supplies, including procurement (e.g., centralized purchasing).
Position Summary:
The Digital Health Expert will ideally be based in Guyana and will be responsible for the delivery of the digital health strategy as part of the Health Facility Supply Chain Assessment in the country. He will work closely with other experts and the Health Team Leader, the Digital Health Expert and the HQ programme team. With knowledge of digital health technologies, the Digital Health Expert will be the key point of contact for all data flows and technology issues, analyse system integration barriers and develop suitable solutions to achieve a robust and formally documented eLMIS improvement plan, including costing, ensuring best practice standards and regulatory compliance. Main responsibilities will include:
- Work with all the relevant stakeholders in country to rapidly research and map out the current LMIS functionality in Guyana following a patient centric approach.
- Produce value stream analysis to identify and document process waste and/or value -adding solutions.
- Develop LMIS integration strategy and ensure TA deliverables progressing initial mapping and design of possible improvement solutions efficiently, effectively and timely.
- Support the design and pre-conditions for the creation of a digital health policy.
- Support the design of digital health capacity building plans, including but not limited to training on digital technologies, policies and operations.
- Input in and deliver all programme milestones accurately and timely per client expectations, including narrative reports.
- Ensure technical and programmatic risks are identified, documented, mitigated and managed efficiently.
- Manage client and stakeholder relationships to high professional standards per programme requirements and client’s need.
Expected Deliverables
- Current LMIS and digital health landscape assessment (as-is process mapping and formal reporting of findings)
- Operational information flow gap analysis
- Patient data flow through the supply chain upstream and downstream information channels, gaps and opportunities
- Development of digital health policy in compliance with local regulations, while promoting suitable technologies
- LMIS integration gaps and opportunities
- Capacity building plans
- Progress reports
- Development of improvement solution and final narrative report
Responsibilities:
Specific responsibilities of the Digital Health Expert include:
Technical Leadership
- Participate in and proactively contribute to weekly reporting meetings with the MMU Unit.
- Develop the technical strategy to strengthen the country’s digital health strategy.
- Identify suitable innovation plans, policies and budgets.
- Identify capacity building needs and training plans.
- Align to Crown Agents’ Ways of Working.
- Promote continuous process improvement as needed.
- Support Crown Agents Global Health team to distil and apply lessons learnt from work in Guyana across the Crown Agents portfolio of programmes.
Stakeholder Coordination
- Work closely with Team Leader and Supply Chain Expert on the country’s LMIS need assessment.
- Carry out collaborative technical research and consultations with MOH representatives and programme partners to ensure strategic operational and regulatory alignment, suitable innovation targets and capacity building plans.
Project Management
- Provide overall technical oversight of the technical improvement solution change process, ensuring benefits are clearly defined and risks mitigated.
- Input in the preparation of periodic and final narrative reports.
- Work closely with the Programme Management and Technical Advisory teams within HQ to ensure programme deliverables are implemented according to MOH Guyana and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) standards and regulations.
Person Specification:
To succeed in this role, you will have:
- eLMIS experience essential
- Comfortable in a fast-paced, customer-oriented, and flexible environment, self-starter.
- Ability to assess multiple opinions, while providing thought leadership.
- At least 5 years’ senior experience in assessing or working with digital health systems in a developing country context involving change management, including mobile medical apps, medical device interoperability, healthcare cybersecurity, advanced analytics, cloud storage and computing.
- Knowledge of the operational reality in Guyana and the LAC region. Supply chain experience in Latin America and/or the Caribbean would is a plus.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills.
- Excellent technical and report writing skills.
- Flexibility and adaptability – client management oriented.
About what’s on offer
You’ll be working with Crown Agents which is a high impact social enterprise passionate about transforming the future for millions of people. Since our creation in 1833 we have worked across the globe to improve public services and drive economic growth. Our expertise is finding new solutions to difficult problems for clients in the areas of health, governance, economic growth, humanitarian action and supply chain services. We work with and train leaders at local, national and international level to achieve lasting change drawing on our insight and experience.
Crown Agents is committed to diversity and will promote diversity for all candidates at all times as well as a business culture that reflects that belief. Crown Agents will treat everyone equally irrespective of race, religion, colour, sex, age, national origin, disability or sexual orientation, and places an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy. Crown Agents shall not discriminate unlawfully when deciding which candidates are selected for interview, or in any terms of employment, and will ensure that each candidate is assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and abilities to perform the role. Crown Agents is committed to being an organisation enhanced by diversity and encourages applications from anyone who shares our values and commitment to improving the lives of communities affected by poverty or conflict.
Crown Agents offers a competitive benefits package.