Background

Ukraine is undergoing major reforms in its political, economic and social sector, with healthcare reform efforts being mentioned in various key political documents. The documents are supported by a number of concepts and strategies that have been developed by expert groups and communities to establish and strengthen people-centered primary healthcare (PHC) and public health services in Ukraine.

Although major work in healthcare reform is ongoing, there exists an urgent need for the coordination mechanism to foster healthcare system that is evidence-informed and inclusive. The Government-led mechanism should be comprehensive, transparent and create an environment for an open dialogue with various stakeholders and partners that are active in healthcare in Ukraine. Furthermore, it should build long-term capacity of the system to respond to emergency and crisis, while simultaneously tackling current priority issues of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (MoH).

The “Policy Dialogue for Better Health Governance” project will provide technical assistance and support to the Ministry of Health to develop and implement evidence-informed national health policies and strategies. The overall goal of the project is to improve health status, financial protection, wellbeing, equitable access and satisfaction with the health services of the Ukrainian population, especially of the most vulnerable groups. The health financing and the primary health care working groups are working side-by-side to support the government with the development of a basic benefit package to be provided to the Ukrainian population , which is people-centred, universally accessible, and evidence-based. The benefit package is envisioned to have free access to primary health care with an essential set of effective interventions and the working groups are to explore entitlements for outpatient medicines and referral care balancing fiscal space and equity considerations.  A modernized multi-profile primary health care will be the cornerstone of a more efficient and more effective, and more accessible health system.  The project is seeing the establishment of thematic working groups and sub groups based on the priorities of the health reform process, the establishment of a SWAP group, together with donor coordination mechanisms.

The Ministry has established specific capacity to support the coordination and realisation of the reform process. This unit will have MoH staff and also be support through the “Policy Dialogue for Better Health Governance” project through the provision of WHO consultants based in the Ministry and also additional specific national and international consultancies as required and planned. To conclude these tasks, Professional Officer on Benefit Design/Primary Health Care needs to be recruited. 

Duties and Responsibilities

In coordination with the relevant departments of the MOH, and with the agreement of WHO Project Manager, the Professional Officer will steer and coordinate the activities relating to designing the benefit package with a focus on essential PHC services in line with relevant WHO standards, principles and practices. She/he will closely collaborate with other WG, MoH staff, national and international partners, experts and consultants supporting the MoH reform process for developing guidelines and tools for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of PHC in Ukraine.

More specifically, the duties will include but are not limited to:

• Participating in  the work and activities of the WGs on Health Financing and PHC, ensuring that the WGs operates and produces recommendations on basic benefit package  and PHC in line with WHO standards and principles;
• Conducting background research for identifying and reviewing existing WHO/European practices on designing a basic benefit package with universal access to free primary health care;
• Developing options for Ukraine under different fiscal space scenarios for levels of entitlements including free primary health care;
• Operationalizing the benefit package at the primary health care level by developing a catalogue of primary health care interventions and developing a gradual expansion of task profile and resolutive capacity;
• Establishing and maintaining intersectorial partnership with the government, donors, civil society and other stakeholders relevant for public discourse around the basic benefit package in Ukraine;
• Liaising with other Ministries and partners active in healthcare reform in Ukraine;
• Ensuring close cooperation with the working group on health finance and primary health care;
• Participate in the discussion around primary health care modernization in order to ensure that the envisioned model is a good vehicle to deliver the agreed benefit package;
• Closely working with the working group on decentralization to ensure that the basic benefit package and PHC strengthening efforts are a part of the overall process of decentralization in Ukraine;
• Closely working with other working groups/subgroups of the project to attain harmonization on and cumulative effect of the project’s outcomes;
• Ensuring timely and quality preparation and delivery of all written outputs, interim and annual reports and other written documents related to PHC and health reform in MoH in English utilizing a prescribed template;
• Presenting at and reporting from intersectorial, interministerial and other meetings on basic benefit design and PHC reform;
• Acting as a center for the collection, analysis and dissemination of information and expertise on basic benefit package;
• Promoting intersectorial, interministerial and multipartner dialogue on basic benefit package design in Ukraine;
• Performing other duties as requested.

Competencies

She/he will have an ability to systematically keep track of actions and large volume of information, with excellent interpersonal skills, including integrity, good judgment and diplomacy. The candidate will have a cooperative spirit, flexibility and openness to new ways of working, be willing and able to work in a team of staff with mixed skills, sharing information, assignments and tasks to ensure achievement of shared goals. She/he must be suitable for work in a high-level political environment; be able to establish and maintain good working relationships with high-ranking officials, staff members, national and international partners. Tact, discretion and courtesy are essential personal attributes of the successful candidate.

She/he will be proficient in standard computer applications, e.g., electronic communication, database searches and management, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation and project planning software.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Essential:

Advanced University degree in public health, health policy, health management, health economics, sociology, medicine, pharmacy, pharmacology, pharmaceutical management related area or related social sciences area.

Training/experience

Essential:

At least three years of professional engagement in health policy, or public health, or areas/policies relating to public health or healthcare reform, some of which should have been in the context of health care system in Ukraine. Demonstrated knowledge of principles of health systems and health financing with a focus on primary health care.

Desirable:

Experience in coordinating international and large-scale projects. Demonstrated experience in inter-sectoral collaboration and ability to work with partners.e successful candidate will be a self-starter, self-motivated, self-manager, including ability to demonstrate initiative and work on her/his own after minimal instructions from supervisors. S/he will have willingness and ability to take responsibility, to juggle many tasks concurrently and prioritize workload in a pressured environment with competing demands and high expectations. S/he will have demonstrated innovative, analytical and problem-solving coordination, monitoring and evaluation skills. The candidate will have a proven ability to lead policy dialogue, advocacy and partnership on health systems and policies, produce results and foster integration and teamwork, communicate in a credible and effective way and be able to move forward in a changing environment.

Language skills

Excellent knowledge of English, Ukrainian and Russian. The candidate must be able to read and understand the essential meaning of a wide variety of written material and the nuances and technical terminology applicable to the job in English, Ukrainian and Russian. She/he must be able to compose, draft and adapt correspondence and documentation as well as to understand and express orally a wide range of information, utilizing an extensive vocabulary, correct grammar and clear pronunciation in the required three languages.

To apply, please send the following documents by email to martynenkoo@who.int:

1. P-11 form that can be found on www.searo.who.int/about/employment/internships_phf.doc
2. Cover letter.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.