Regional Advisor - Primary Health Care

Regional Advisor - Primary Health Care

WHO - World Health Organization

New Delhi, India

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The overall goal of the Health Systems Development department is to strengthen health systems in ways that will advance universal health coverage (UHC) and therefore progress towards the health Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs2030) in the eleven SEAR countries, with an increased focus on reaching vulnerable populations, through the following strategic directions: Building back health systems in the context of COVID based on a strong primary health care foundation for resilience and rapid progress towards UHC. Strengthening primary health care systems and services as well as adapting primary healthcare services to changing needs, backed up by appropriate care at the secondary and tertiary levels, with attention to safety, quality and equity - including gender; Systematically addressing social, economic, environmental and commercial determinants of health through evidence-informed public policies and actions across all sectors; Empowering people, families, and communities to take control of their health, as advocates for policies that promote and protect health, as co-developers of health and social services through social and community participation, and as self-carers and care-givers to others; and Ensuring people's main health problems are addressed through comprehensive promotive, protective, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care throughout the life course, strategically prioritizing key services aimed at the population (e.g., public health functions) and personal services (e.g., primary care) as the central elements of integrated service delivery across all levels of care.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the PHC Operational Framework, SE Asia Regional Strategy on PHC, regional strategic frameworks and a country's overall health policy and strategy framework as well as its vision for UHC, the incumbent shall be the Regional Expert on primary health care approaches in terms of promoting integrated people-centered PHC systems, provision of essential health services and essential public health functions, strengthening and capacity building in countries and will provide evidence-based support through policy advice and technical support. Under the overall guidance of Director, Programme Management and supervision of Director, Department of UHC/Health Systems, the incumbent will:

• Collaborate with technical departments and units within UHC/health systems development and beyond to ensure integration of various public health programmes in primary health care and to ensure that the principles of PHC are embedded into all public health and disease control programmes;
• Provide policy guidance and technical support to countries to materialize primary health care approaches to respond to changing needs, with a focus on strengthening primary health care system;
• Provide technical support to countries to strengthen their capacity to design and implement and appropriate package of services within the framework of integrated and comprehensive primary health care, ensuring appropriate linkages to secondary and tertiary levels of care in the health care systems of countries;
• Provide technical assistance to countries to measure and monitor progress on strengthening primary health care for equitable and quality care, including performance of primary health care, as foundation for achieving UHC and health-related SDGs;
• Demonstrate leadership by being the focal point in fostering collaboration across programmes, sectors and all partners;
• Focal point for PHC in the Regional Office for dialogue and communication between the three levels of the organization and between Member States and development partners; and
• Any other task assigned by the Director.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Essential: University degree in Medicine, public health, social or management science or related health sciences with Postgraduate/Masters level degree in Public Health, health systems, health workforce development, health economics, health administration or health service management;
• Desirable: Post graduate qualification in international development, economics, law, or other social sciences with focus on supporting multi-sectoral action for health.

Experience

• Essential: At least 10 years of relevant experience in health systems strengthening and assessment particularly in Primary Health Care, including considerable experience in international context;
• Desirable: Experience of work in public health, health policy, planning and management at country, and global levels, and experience of the WHO and UN system.

Skills

Essential:

• Knowledge of principles of primary health care and of public health and health systems;
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly and concisely communicate complex issues;
• Demonstrated ability to maintain effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders in government and beyond, including other development agencies.

Desirable: Experience in WHO and/or Knowledge of WHO rules and regulations and good knowledge of the working of UN and other international agencies in the area of public health.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork;
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences;
• Communication;
• Producing results;
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond;
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment.

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English;
• Desirable: Knowledge of regional language(s) would be an asset.

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