Consultant for Medical Practice Competency Assessment

Job Posting Organization:
The National Medical Council (NMC) was established under Decision No. 827/QD-TTg on August 13, 2024, to independently assess the professional competence of medical practitioners in accordance with the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 202

• The NMC aims to reform the medical licensing process by separating training from licensing and introducing national competency-based examinations starting in 202
• Since its establishment in 2025, the NMC Office has made significant progress in building the necessary institutional framework to support this initiative. The NMC Office is responsible for developing four competency-based assessment toolkits in General Medicine, Dentistry, Traditional Medicine, and Preventive Medicine, and is tasked with establishing a standardized national procedure to guide toolkit development and exam question construction. The NMC coordinates multiple technical subcommittees and stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of these reforms. WHO has been providing strategic and technical support to the Ministry of Health and the NMC to advance reforms that strengthen the quality, standardization, and international alignment of medical education in Vietnam, contributing to the establishment of a high-quality medical education system that prepares graduates for safe and effective practice. This consultancy is crucial for ensuring timely and quality implementation of the 2026 workplan and readiness for national examinations in 2027.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to provide high-level technical support to establish a robust, standardized, and nationally credible system for medical practice competency assessment in Vietnam. The consultant will be responsible for delivering defined outputs and deliverables that will strengthen the institutional, procedural, and operational foundations required for the development of four priority assessment toolkits. The consultant will ensure alignment with national regulatory requirements and international good practices while enhancing quality assurance across the assessment development process. The role involves conducting document analysis of Vietnamese legal texts, structured desk reviews to identify gaps and inconsistencies in existing regulations, and international benchmark reviews of relevant good practices and WHO documents. The consultant will also engage in iterative drafting, revision, and documentation, as well as structured stakeholder consultations with the NMC Office and other experts. The overall goal is to support the NMC in developing a comprehensive and effective competency assessment system that meets both national and international standards.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be tasked with several key deliverables, including:

• Planning and regulatory analysis, which involves creating a consolidated master plan for assessment toolkit development, identifying milestones, roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms across subcommittees, and ensuring alignment with the overall roadmap to 203
• Conducting a structured inventory and analysis of relevant Vietnamese regulations and guidelines related to assessment toolkit development and exam question construction.
• Developing a complete draft of the Procedure for developing a toolkit for assessing the professional competence of medical practitioners, which will include a step-by-step process, defined roles and responsibilities, quality assurance mechanisms, and supporting templates.
• Compiling comments from NMC members and experts into a structured feedback matrix and documenting revisions made in response to comments.
• Reporting on training sessions and workshops for test writing, including training plans and materials.
• Conducting a consolidated progress review report on the four toolkits, identifying key issues and gaps, and providing practical recommendations.
• Performing a risk analysis to identify key implementation risks and mitigation measures.
• Finalizing the Procedure document and submission package, including a summary of revisions and a brief explanatory note to support decision-making.
• Producing a final analytical report on implementation, detailing progress achieved, lessons learned, and recommendations for the next phase.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires several essential qualifications, including:

• An advanced university degree in a health-related field such as Medicine, Public Health, Dentistry, Traditional Medicine, Nursing, or Health Administration from a recognized university.
• At least 10 years of experience in healthcare or health administration, with a strong background in drafting administrative documents, guidelines, or regulations in the healthcare sector.
• A good understanding of the Vietnamese healthcare system, medical training institutions, and regulatory documents, as well as the mandate of the National Medical Council.
• Proficiency in using office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and conducting document searches, along with basic project planning skills.
• Strong coordination and stakeholder engagement skills are essential for this role.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess at least an advanced university degree in a health-related field such as Medicine, Public Health, Dentistry, Traditional Medicine, Nursing, or Health Administration from a recognized institution. Additional training in medical education, competency-based assessment, or project management is desirable but not mandatory.

Experience:
The consultant is expected to have a minimum of 10 years of experience in healthcare or health administration. This experience should include drafting administrative documents, guidelines, or regulations within the healthcare sector. Desirable experience includes developing or managing competency-based examination systems and working with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health or the National Medical Council.

Languages:
Fluency in Vietnamese (reading, writing, speaking) is essential for this position, along with working proficiency in English. This bilingual capability is crucial for effective communication and documentation throughout the consultancy.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for 60 working days, from July 10, 2026, to December 31, 2026, with a remuneration of USD 180 per day. The consultant will work offsite and is not expected to travel. This vacancy notice may also be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test may be used as a form of screening. Candidates will need to provide scanned copies of their degrees or diplomas in advance if retained for an interview. WHO emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, and all members of the workforce are expected to promote a safe and respectful workplace.