Вакансія: Telemedicine Implementation Costing Consultant

1. Scope of work 

The Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) Ukraine activity works to mitigate corruption and strengthen governance of the healthcare system by developing the capacity of the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the eHealth State Enterprise. It aims to support the Government of Ukraine (GOU) to put in place the foundation for institutional arrangements and capacity to govern and ensure telemedicine is safely and sustainably offered to the population. The project further supports the rapid and rational scale up of telemedicine capacity in the context of the Russian invasion, and to help the Government of Ukraine to eventually integrate emergency telemedicine support investments into the health system.

Telemedicine services have grown rapidly in recent years because of the COVID-19 pandemic and, with the onset of Russia’s illegal invasion, have become an essential tool to maintain access to healthcare. To date, the growth of telemedicine use has been primarily private-sector-driven, regulations around telemedicine services are fragmented, and governmental roles and responsibilities remain unclear. The LHSS team closely work with the MoH, NHSU and eHealth State Enterprise and implementing partners in developing strategic vision/concept note for the telemedicine development in Ukraine as well as an implementation plan to serve as a guide that prioritizes and plans timing for key action steps on telemedicine development.

To support the adequate and effective implementation of technical activities, LHSS Ukraine seeks to hire a consultant to cost the Telemedicine Development Implementation Plan. The Consultant will work closely with the LHSS Ukraine team based in Kyiv under the direct supervision of the Chief of Party. Specifically, the consultant will:

Task 1: Cost telemedicine implementation plan. Under the guidance of the LHSS Ukraine activity, the consultant will review the Telemedicine Concept Note and Implementation Plan. The consultant will propose methodology for costing the Implementation Plan for LHSS approval, and then conduct the costing of the Plan. The consultant will work closely with the IWG and other key implementing partners and donors to determine key stakeholders’ contribution to funding and costing the Implementation Plan. The consultant will also map existing and upcoming resources available for implementation of the Telemedicine Concept Note and Implementation Plan, including national and regional level organizations; government, oblast and municipal budgets; private sector; donors; and implementing partners resources. The consultant will identify funding gaps as well. The consultant will present the map of available telemedicine resources to the IWG for review and feedback, and then present the costed Implementation Plan at the IWG and the MOH finance department. The consultant will then document answers to questions raised at the presentation and share with LHSS.

Expected deliverables: 

• Inception report with a proposed methodology to estimate costs for implementation of the Telemedicine Concept (by December 15, 2022).
• Costed Implementation Plan of the Telemedicine Concept, including an electronic instrument (Excel-based) to calculate costs of relevant components of the Concept (by January 15, 2023)
• Map of existing and upcoming resources available for implementation of the Telemedicine Concept and Implementation Plan reviewed by the IWG (by January 31, 2023).
• Answers to questions raised at IWG MOH presentation (by February 15, 2023).

Tentative Dates and Estimated LOE: 

• The tentative dates for this task are November 21, 2022 – February 15, 2023 
• Anticipated LOE: 15 days

Task 2: Identify and cost resources required for the telemedicine module. The consultant will identify and cost resources required for the development and maintenance of the telemedicine module as part of the central database of the eHealth system, including upfront investment needs as well as annual maintenance cost of the telemedicine system.

Expected deliverables: 

• Analytical note on resources required for the development and maintenance of the telemedicine module as part of the Central Database CDB, including upfront investment needs as well as annual maintenance cost of the telemedicine system (by February 15, 2023). 

Tentative Dates and Estimated LOE: 

• The tentative dates for this task are November 21, 2022 – February 15, 2023
• Anticipated LOE: 15 days

Task 3: Estimate annual cost of existing telemedicine solutions provided as humanitarian aid. The consultant will estimate potential annual cost of usage, for after the war, of existing telemedicine solutions provided to the MOH as humanitarian assistance. The consultant will then advise the MOH on the rational cost of continuing to use available telemedicine solutions after the war.

Expected deliverables: 

• Analytical note with recommendations to the MOH on the cost of use after the war of the telemedicine solutions provided as humanitarian assistance for the war time period (by February 15, 2023). 

Tentative Dates and Estimated LOE: 

• The tentative dates for this task are January 1, 2023 – February 15, 2023
• Anticipated LOE: 10 days

Task 4: Complete a Short-Term Consultant Technical Assistance Report within final month of the consultancy. Template for report will be given within 30 days of consultancy start. 

 Expected deliverables: 

• Short-term technical assistance report including all technical deliverables as attachments. 

 Tentative Dates and Estimated LOE: 

• The tentative dates for this task are January 1, 2023 – February 28, 2023

• Anticipated LOE: up to 2 days  

2. Assumptions, Period of Performance, expected Level of Effort (LOE), reporting, minimum requirements, and travel 

Assumptions: This contract is dependent on the ability of government and development partner stakeholders to engage with LHSS Ukraine, given the ongoing war with Russia, any COVID-19-related restrictions, and the ability of USAID to obtain concurrence from the MOH to work with the activity.  

Reporting: The consultant will report to the LHSS Ukraine Chief of Party. 

Location: The consultant will initiate the work remotely. The team will consider travel needs on an ongoing basis and update this agreement if travel is agreed upon. 

Period of Performance: The consultant period of performance begins on November 21, 2022, and ends on February 28, 2023 for up to 42 days LOE. 

Minimum requirements: 

• Understanding of Ukrainian requirements and practices for costing health-related policies and plans.
• At least 5 years of experience in health financing.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, medicine, writing or a related field.
• Proficient in all Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc).
• Very strong communications skills.
• Careful, precise, attentive to details.
• Able to work to deadlines and under pressure.
• Familiarity with public health, Ministry of Health, and USAID projects a plus.

Please use the following link to apply: https://egpy.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/102527