Consultant: Strengthening antimicrobial resistance response, regulatory systems and access to medical products

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is the World Health Organization (WHO), which is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO has a mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. The organization operates in over 150 countries and has more than 7,000 employees worldwide. WHO's work includes addressing global health issues, providing leadership on health matters, shaping the research agenda, and setting norms and standards for health practices.

Job Overview:
The position of Consultant focuses on strengthening the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) response and regulatory systems in Cambodia, ensuring access to safe, effective, and quality essential medicines, including antimicrobials. The consultant will work under the Health Systems Coordinator and will be responsible for implementing various outputs related to antimicrobial consumption surveillance, supporting the National Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Guidelines, and enhancing the regulatory capacity of the Department of Drugs and Food (DDF). The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, to address the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance and improve the pharmaceutical system in Cambodia. The consultant will also contribute to the development of essential medicines lists and provide technical assistance in other areas of the pharmaceutical system as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will have a comprehensive set of duties and responsibilities, including:

• Introduction and implementation of antimicrobial consumption surveillance in Cambodia, providing technical support for pilot implementation in selected hospitals, and assisting with data cleaning and analysis.
• Supporting the implementation of the National AMS Guidelines, including follow-up actions from meetings, preparing documentation, and facilitating communication with relevant stakeholders.
• Strengthening the regulatory capacity of the DDF and the National Health Products Quality Control Centre by supporting follow-up actions from workshops, providing technical inputs for the new Pharmaceutical Law, and coordinating activities related to traditional medicine regulation.
• Updating the Cambodia essential medicines list and developing an essential diagnostics list, proposing concept notes, organizing revision processes, and developing harmonization recommendations.
• Providing technical assistance to the WHO Health System Development team in other pharmaceutical system areas, updating country profiles, and reporting on pharmaceutical-related meetings.
• Contributing to district pharmaceutical audits in operational districts, developing methodologies, and producing audit reports.
• Submitting technical reports, including a consultancy plan with a timeline, monthly reports, and a final technical report at the end of the assignment.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for this position include a university degree in public health, pharmacy, medicine, epidemiology, health sciences, or other relevant fields. An advanced degree or training in international health, health law, public health, antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceutical affairs, or related fields is desirable. Candidates should have at least seven years of experience in essential medicines, health technologies, antimicrobial resistance, or pharmaceutical systems, with exposure to medicines regulation or pharmaceutical policies. Experience in resource-limited settings is also desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a university degree in relevant fields such as public health, pharmacy, medicine, epidemiology, or health sciences. An advanced degree or specialized training in areas related to international health, health law, or pharmaceutical policies is preferred, as it demonstrates a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in managing health systems and addressing antimicrobial resistance.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in essential medicines, health technologies, antimicrobial resistance, or pharmaceutical systems. This experience should include exposure to medicines regulation or pharmaceutical policies, highlighting the candidate's ability to navigate the regulatory landscape and contribute effectively to the strengthening of pharmaceutical systems in Cambodia. Experience in resource-limited settings is considered an asset, as it indicates familiarity with the challenges faced in such environments.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is essential for this position. This requirement ensures that the consultant can effectively communicate with stakeholders, prepare documentation, and contribute to discussions on antimicrobial resistance and pharmaceutical systems. Proficiency in additional languages may be beneficial but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is a full-time position with a duration of three months, based at the WHO Country Office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The consultant may be required to travel to provinces as necessary for the role, and full medical clearance is required for any travel involved. The remuneration rate is to be determined, and travel costs are excluded from the budget.