JOB DESCRIPTION
Research Expert
National Health Authority, New Delhi
1. POSITIONS VACANT: Research Expert, National Health Authority, New Delhi
2. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has set up the National Health Authority (NHA) to manage the Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) at the national level. At the state level, implementation of PM-JAY is being facilitated by multiple State Health Agencies (SHAs), that have been especially established for the purpose.
MoHFW/ NHA has initiated the ‘Professional Programme for Health Protection,’ in partnership with GIZ, to enhance the capacities of the different implementing agencies that are helping manage PM-JAY. The programme is helping select, train and mentor consultants, who shall be placed at the NHA and/or different SHAs, to support the implementation of PM-JAY.
Context
After the G20 Summit, India's dedication to fostering South-South collaboration and realizing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 remains steadfast, recognizing its pivotal role in advancing the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UHC is included in SDGs as target 3.8 with 2 indicators – SDG 3.8.1, which is about coverage of essential health services based on 14 tracer indicators; and SDG 3.8.2, which is about the proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income. UHC is critical for the achievement of not only health-related SDGs, many other SDGs are closely inter-linked with it either as its determinant or consequence. UHC has, therefore, emerged as a central focus area in global development and health discourses. Heads of States assembled at the United Nations for High Level Meetings on UHC in 2019 and again in 2023.
Despite laudable progress over the past decades, UHC is not yet a reality for everyone in Asia. The region has the highest population which faces impoverishment due to out-of-pocket health expenditures. Further, inequalities in access to health services are still pronounced across and within countries. Gaps in health service coverage disproportionately affect the most vulnerable, especially females. High-level commitment by Asian countries to assume primary responsibility for the design, implementation and financing of UHC is essential to address these issues and prevent impoverishment due to sickness and care-seeking. Such efforts must be informed by principles such as collective financing, risk-pooling and rights-based entitlements.
Within Asia, the South Asian region has made significant progress on the coverage of essential health services as per SDG 3.8.1. Yet, it has the highest proportion of the world’s population that lacks the ability to access such services – 782 million or 31% of the global total in 2019. Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure as a percentage of current health expenditure has declined. Yet, it continues to be unacceptably high in most countries of the region – actually increasing in Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal between 2002 and 2020. In 2020, it went up to 74% in Bangladesh and 75% in Afghanistan. No wonder, South Asia had the highest proportion of the world’s population pushed below the $1.90 ($ 2011 PPP) poverty line due to OOP expenditure – 70 million or 60% of the global total in 2015. The global realization of SDG 3.8 and related SDGs is dependent on Asia’s – particularly South Asia’s – progress on UHC.
Considering the emphasis of European Union (EU) and German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) on trilateral cooperation, with a specific focus on aligning efforts in Asia, the Indo-German Programme on Universal Health Coverage (IGUHC) seeks to identify areas of synergy within Asia. Building on India's recent commitment to South-South collaboration articulated during the recent G20 summit, the IGUHC aims to establish a platform to facilitate the initiatives of the National Health Authority (NHA) in exploring potential regional partners for advancing UHC. Furthermore, in accordance with BMZ's emphasis on multilateral and regional initiatives, IGUHC wishes to engage a Research Expert to help develop a Regional Action Plan to expedite realization of UHC in Asia, with a focus on selected countries, as well as other tasks assigned by the Lead Project Consultant/IGUHC Health Advisor.
Objective of the Assignment
The assignment objective is to help develop a Regional Action Plan for accelerating universal health coverage in Asia as well as other tasks assigned by the Lead Project Consultant/IGUHC Health Advisor.
3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:
The consultant will contribute to the preparation of the draft, revised, and adopted versions of Regional Action Plan under the supervision of the Lead Consultant as well as other tasks assigned by the Lead Project Consultant/IGUHC Health Advisor.
4. QUALIFICATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Qualifications:
(1) Master’s degree in health or social sciences from a reputed institution
Experience:
(1) Minimum Two years of relevant work experience
(2) Strong analytical and research skills;
Skills and Competencies:
(1) Proficiency in Microsoft Office or other equivalent tools.
(2) Demonstrated fluency with English speaking and writing skills.
5. VACANCY DETAILS: One
6. LOCATION: New Delhi
7. COMPENSATION OFFERED:
The offer made to the selected candidate shall be commensurate with qualifications, experience, and salary history.
8. NATURE OF ENGAGEMENT:
The Consultant shall be hired on a consultancy contract through Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd. (SAMS), a respected HR Agency.
9. CONTRACT TYPE AND PERIOD:
The post-holder shall be engaged on a consultancy contract till February 29, 2024, extendable thereafter, on the basis of performance.
10. REFERENCE: RE-GIZ
11. CONTACT INFORMATION:
Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011-41011564/65; 4081 990
12. LAST DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:
Eligible candidates interested in the position are requested to apply using the link https://recruitment.samshrm.com/Jobs/GIZ by or before November 6, 2023