National consultant to support the review and approval of the updated costing of GeneXpert for anti-Tuberculosis reimbursed through Social Health Insurance

Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) Vietnam

CALL FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES

A national consultant to support the review and approval of the updated costing of GeneXpert for anti-Tuberculosis reimbursed through Social Health Insurance

I.        BACKGROUND

The global LHSS project 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 Associates, the four-year activity will support Vietnam in increasing its domestic financing for HIV and TB services in the context of declining donor funding, using government resources more efficiently, and 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) Transition of TB services into SHI.

As part of the process to transition TB drugs and services into SHI, in year 2, LHSS provided technical support to The National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) and the National Lung Hospital (NLH)’s Department of Microbiology to conduct the update of GeneXpert testing service costing for TB. The new cost includes updated cost items which were calculated in 2018 based on recent government guidance on costing public health examination and treatment services. More importantly, per the government direction on the proper and full costing of services, two additional cost components namely management and asset depreciation were calculated together with the two existing components which are wages and direct costs.

For the new cost to be applied at health facilities and reimbursed through SHI, the MOH Department of Planning and Finance (DPF) will be the focal point unit to process its review and approval within the MOH and with the Ministry of Finance (MOF). To support the DPF throughout this process, the LHSS will mobilize a national consultant to work with related MOH departments and the MOF to get the new cost approved by the MOH.  

II.      TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

2.1.    Main Tasks

The consultant will work with the MOH/DPF and related departments, the NTP, the NLH/Department of Microbiology, and the MOF/Department of price management to:

• Support the NLH in the preparation of justification for updating the costing package to the MOH leadership.
• Review the government and MOH regulations on public health examination and treatment service costs to ensure that the review and approval of the updated costing package are aligned.
• Follow up with the review board members on their participation and comments/opinions to adjust the cost package.
• Work with the DPF’s public health price management division to update the costing package and/or make changes upon the review board’s request.
• Follow up with the MOH leadership office on the approval of the costing package.
• Document the review and approval process.
• Other related tasks as requested.

2.2.    Deliverables

• Consultant monthly updates on the progress of task implementation and supporting documents if relevant.
• The costing package is to be submitted to MOH leadership for approval.
• A final consultancy report.

III.    SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

• Graduate degree in finance or relevant disciplines.
• 5 - 7 years of work experience in health financing and/or related aspects.
• Demonstrate experiences in working in the MOH environment.
• Familiar with health care services costing following the government and MOH guidelines.
• Coordination experience with the MOH departments and related ministries.
• Language requirement: Vietnamese. The ability to speak English would be an advantage.

IV.    MANAGEMENT OF THE ASSIGNMENT

All deliverables must be reviewed by the LHSS Social Health Insurance and Finance Technical Officer and approved by the Technical director. The consultant can direct questions to the Technical director throughout the consultancy.

Contract duration: from April through September 2023 for a total of fifty working days (50) working days.

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

Deadline: April 17, 2023

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.