National consultant to support the Viet Nam Authority for AIDS Control (VAAC) in developing the ARV drug supply chain management guidance

 CALL FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES

National consultant to support the Viet Nam Authority for AIDS Control (VAAC)

in developing the ARV drug supply chain management guidance

1. Background and context of the assignment

Background

The global USAID LHSS Activity helps low- and middle-income countries transition to sustainable, self-funded health finance systems that support high-performing overall health systems. The LHSS activity in Vietnam will work with the Government of Vietnam (GVN) to advance greater local ownership of HIV and TB prevention and control. Led by Abt Global, the four-year activity supports Vietnam in increasing its domestic financing for HIV and TB services in the context of declining donor funding, in using government resources more efficiently, and in assuming local ownership of HIV and TB prevention and control activities. Specific objectives are: (1) Support the GVN to strengthen its public financial management systems for public sector health and find greater efficiencies in social health insurance (SHI), (2) Increase and improve the efficiency of domestic financing of HIV prevention and treatment services; (3) Strengthen the capacity of Vietnam’s supply chain management system; and (4) Integrate TB services into SHI.

Context of the assignment                                                                                                                

LHSS has been strengthening the GVN capacity in the supply chain management system by providing technical support to the Vietnam Authority for AIDS Control (VAAC) in monitoring the ARV drug supply chain management. LHSS has been supporting MOH in implementing procurement cycles since the ARVs procurement was transitioned to the Social Health Insurance (SHI) scheme. By the end of 2023, Vietnam recorded 178,928 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) of which 154,539 are on ARVs covered by SHI (VAAC, 2023). LHSS has been supporting MOH in procuring SHI ARVs through two types of procurement including price negotiation and open bidding. As regulated, the SHI ARVs of which quantification is made by VAAC are procured centrally by the National Centralized Drug Procurement Center (NCDPC). The supply chain management of those ARVs, as a result of centralized procurement at the central level, is in accordance with the regulation of central payment from the SHI fund.

Since 2020, LHSS has worked with VAAC on various activities to improve the supply chain management of those procured ARVs includingmonitoringthe drug supply and national stock, providing health facilities with guidance on ordering, reviewing, and reporting timely and correctly the drug utilization and reallocation, upgrading the ARV drug management tool. In addition, LHSS and VAAC have worked closely to enhance the supply chain management capacity through annual training on quantification, ad-hoc coaching and supportive supervision, and others for more effective ARV supply chain management, further collaboration and activities are needed particularly when new procurement policies including regulations of decentralized procurement for ARVs are promulgated.

With the aim to enhance the quality of ARV supply chain management, VAAC planned to update the guidance on ARV drug supply chain management detailed in Decision 165/QD-AIDS dated August 25, 2014, to make it more relevant and address the new regulations. In this context, LHSS will collaborate with VAAC and hire a national consultantwho has expertise in drug supply chain management to review the existing guidance and develop the new guidance, addressing the legal changes in the implementation of the HIV program and ARV drug management at health facilities.

2. Objectives

The general objective of this consultancy is to provide technical assistance to VAAC to develop new guidance on ARV drug supply chain management to replace Decision 165/QD-AIDS detailing ARV supply chain management in the HIV/AIDS program which was issued by VAAC in 2014.

3. Tasks and deliverables

The national consultantshall work closely with the VAAC technical team and LHSS team to conduct the following tasks:

• Review the existing policies and guidance on supply chain management to support VAAC in updating the guidance on quantification, ordering, receiving, storage, distribution, reallocation, and withdrawal of ARVs which are procured through all funding sources including social health insurance.
• Support VAAC in drafting the decision promulgating supply chain management guidance to replace the existing decision.
• Based on the updated guidance, summarize it by a specificprocess summary with key steps and points in each step that in-charge health staff should follow to ensure proper and effective supply chain management.
• Participate in technical discussions and meetings with relevant stakeholders to share and collect comments for the draft guidance for review and finalization.

Deliverables and timeline:

* The timeline can be modified upon the context and funding availability.

4. Location and timing

The work will be carried out in Hanoi from May to June 2024 and is scheduled to continue until September 2024, covering a total of up to 30 working days, subject to funding.

5. Requirements

Qualification requirements

• An advanced degree in medicine, health, economics, or relevant disciplines.
• 5-10 years of relevant work experience in drug procurement and supply chain management.
• Strong understanding and knowledge of the health system in Viet Nam in general and the HIV/AIDS program and its implementationin particular
• Good knowledge of legal documents and regulations which are applicable to HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs in Vietnam and its current context.
• Experience in working and collaborating with VAAC, particularly in terms of monitoring and operating ARV drug procurement and supply chain management and/or the HIV program.
• Language requirement: Vietnamese. The ability to speak basic English would be an advantage.

6. Management of the assignment

The consultant will report to the Technical Specialist – Procurement and Supply Chain at LHSS Vietnam. He/She will work closely with VAAC and the relevant agencies where relevant.

The consultant shall submit monthly reports that describe the work done in the month, key findings, and attachment of supporting documents if any during the 1st week of the following month until his/her contract is completed. Monthly consultancy reports should be submitted with supporting documents (if relevant) on the task performed and any accomplishments by VAAC when needed. The consultant shall submit the final report at the end of the contract.

To apply, please send your CVs and an application letter to the following email: [email protected]

Deadline: April 23, 2024

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.