Consultancy – Antimicrobial Stewardship

Consultancy – Antimicrobial Stewardship – (2408242) 

Contractual Arrangement: External consultant

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 11 months

Job Posting

: Nov 6, 2024, 6:01:42 AM

Closing Date

: Nov 20, 2024, 10:59:00 PM

Primary Location

: Philippines-Manila

Organization

: WP/DHS Division of Health Systems and Services

Schedule

: Full-time 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings. 

Purpose of Consultancy

The purpose of this short-term consultancy (STC) is to support antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and antimicrobial consumption (AMC) surveillance in the WHO Western Pacific Region. 

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to global health and security. AMR is driven by many complex factors, but overuse and misuse of antibiotics are among the leading causes. Moreover, new evidence from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows the extensive overuse of antibiotics during COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, which may have exacerbated “silent” spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

In this context, antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial consumption surveillance and monitoring are crucial for optimizing their use. Antimicrobial stewardship is a term used to describe a collection of activities aiming to optimise antimicrobial therapy to improve patient outcomes (through most effective treatment and prevention of infection), while limiting impact on local microbial ecology (limiting the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in pathogens), minimising the effects of drug toxicity for patients, and using the most cost-effective option where possible (but never at the expense of quality and safety of care). Measuring and analysing the consumption and use of antibiotics is a critical step which informs the development of appropriate strategies to improve use of antibiotics. 

The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific launched the Western Pacific Regional Antimicrobial Consumption Surveillance System (WPRACSS) in 2020 to support Member States in the implementation and further development of AMC surveillance at the national level, in hospitals and in the community. It provides a platform for countries to understand their own antimicrobial consumption patterns to help guide action on stewardship. Moreover, a practical workbook “Training package- Antimicrobial Stewardship in Hospitals” is finalized to help Member States to set up AMS programme in hospital settings by outlining the core principles and approaches of AMS that may be used in the implementation of a new or existing AMS programme.

Deliverables

Output 1: Support antimicrobial stewardship implementation

Deliverable 1.1 desk-top review summary of AMS implementation in the region

Deliverable 1.2 development of AMS guidelines and tools for selected countries at different settings

Deliverable 1.3 development of interactive training materials on AMS tailored to country(s)’s context for hospital AMS team

Output 2. Support antimicrobial consumption surveillance

Deliverable 2.1 development of national guidelines and tools for establishing AMC surveillance system in selected countries

Deliverable 2.2 consolidated AMC report from WPRACSS participating countries

Deliverable 2.3 training materials for AMC tailored to country’s context

Output 3: Appropriate selection and use of medicines including antimicrobials

Deliverable 3.1 revision and development of essential medicines list considering the WHO AWaRE classification of antibiotics and local evidence on AMR in selected countries.

Deliverable 3.2 technical guidance on promoting appropriate use of medicines including antimicrobials which includes medicines utilization studies and recommendations for setting up systems/mechanisms such as criteria for accreditation of hospitals etc.

Output 4: Consultancy reports

Deliverable 4.1 monthly progress report

Deliverable 4.2 final technical reports along with all deliverables

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: Degree in medicine or advanced university degree in pharmacy, clinical pharmacology, microbiology or relevant public health or clinical field. 

Desirable: Training on AMR/AMS/ AMC and/or relevant fields.

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of experience in antimicrobial stewardship, antimicrobial consumption monitoring, clinical pharmacology, clinical pharmacy, clinical practice, microbiology/clinical laboratory and/or other field at national and international level.

Desirable: In-depth experience in implementation of AMS in resource-limited settings. Practical knowledge of AMC (ATC/DDD) methodology and point prevalence survey (PPS) for antibiotic use. Experience in conducting training using adult learning methodologies.

Skills/Knowledge

Understanding of health systems and service delivery in resource-limited setting

Specialized on Antibiotic Stewardship, Surveillance of Antibiotic Use/AMC, PPS

Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills

Languages and level required

Essential: Fluent in English (writing, reading and speaking)

Location

The consultant will work onsite (WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines) to produce the required deliverables (subject to discussion).

Travel

The consultant is required to undertake a mission to Member States(s) when required (subject to request and government clearance).

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: Payband B, USD 9 000.00 (monthly)

Duration: 11 months, December 2024 to November 2025

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
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