National Consultant – Development of National Digital Health Strategy

Purpose of consultancy

To lead the development of a national digital health strategy for Tunisia to support the provision of equitable, accessible, and effective health services through appropriate and innovative use of digital health technologies. The development of the strategy will build on earlier, preparatory work done through a WHO consultancy (desk review and interviews with national experts and stakeholders) that resulted in a proposed vision, goal, and objectives of the strategy that was validated by the Director General of Health, MOH, as well as an annotated outline.

Background

Digital health solutions have the potential to strengthen health care delivery, improve health outcomes, and advance universal health coverage (UHC) in Tunisia. The national health policy (Politique Nationale de Santé, PNS) recognizes that digital health technologies can play an important role in bringing health services closer to the population, advancing collaboration between health professionals, improving transparency, strengthening planning, and ensuring monitoring and evaluation of health service utilization and health outcomes.

Informed by an assessment based on desk review and interviews with national experts and stakeholders conducted by a WHO consultancy, the WHO country office has proposed a vision, goals, and objectives of the national digital health strategy, which have been validated by the MOH. A tentative annotated outline has also been prepared. The proposed vision of the strategy is: Appropriate and accessible digital health technologies will contribute to the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC) in Tunisia by giving policy makers and health managers the tools they need for informed policy and planning, enabling professionals and providers to organize and deliver healthcare services and products effectively, and empowering people to take responsibility for their own health and well-being.

The proposed goal of the strategy is to enhance the use of digital health in the provision of equitable, accessible, affordable, safe and effective health services at all levels of the health system in Tunisia. The proposed objectives of the strategy are to:

·Enhance the use of digital health for public health, health promotion and awareness, disease surveillance, and response.

·Support national health information system (HIS) efforts by recommending best practice in data management and strengthening evidence-based decision-making at all levels (local, regional and national).

·Advance the development, implementation and evaluation of digital health solutions to support the operationalization of the PNS and the various health strategies.

·Promote the collaboration of national stakeholders, including public and private entities, to advance digital transformation, knowledge translation and innovation in health.

·Define the institutional arrangements and governance structure for digital health, specifying the roles and responsibilities at national, regional and local level of public and private sector players.

·Adapt and strengthen human resources capacity to the needs of digital health development.

·Specify and facilitate norms and standards for the adoption and implementation of digital health technologies and solutions, in particular standards relating to interoperability.

·Advocate digital health solutions to promote a people-centered health system (including patients, families and communities), supported and enabled by digital technologies and applications, such as telemedicine solutions.

·Ensure sustainable financing and resource mobilization for digital health.

·Ensure ethical considerations in the use of advanced digital technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital health solutions.

The strategy will be informed by national priorities, policies, and needs. The strategy will be aligned with the Global Digital Health Strategy (GDHS) that was adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 2020 during its 73rd session, and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean regional strategy approved in October 2022 during the 69th session of the Regional Committee.

Deliverables

Output 1: Lead the drafting of the digital health strategy document, ensuring alignment with the PNS, other national strategies, international standards, WHO global and regional strategy, and informed by the work of the previous WHO consultancy to generate evidence and information to inform strategy development.

Deliverable 1.1: Finalize the annotated outline of the strategy document by adding more Tunisia-specific content, giving attention to key priorities such as regulation and governance of digital health in the country, digitalization of health information systems, appropriate use and enhancement of telemedicine, electronic referral systems and ePrescribing, mHealth solutions, financing and remuneration, human resource capacity, infrastructure and technical resources, and safety and security of system and data.

Deliverable 1.2: Draft strategy based on collected evidence and information.

Output 2: Facilitate the process of strategy validation by national stakeholders

Deliverable 2.1: Concept note with agenda for a national workshop to gather feedback from relevant stakeholders.

Deliverable 2.2: PowerPoint presentation of draft strategy presented during workshop.

Deliverable 2.3: Detailed workshop report with a summary of feedback and recommendations to inform the finalization of the strategy document.

Output 3: Finalize the draftstrategy for submission to MOH

Deliverable 3.1: Final draft of the strategy based on feedback from workshop participants.

Deliverable 3.2: Updated PowerPoint presentation of final draft strategy.

Educational Qualifications

Essential: Master’s degree in digital health, health information systems, health policy, public health, or related field.

Desirable: Doctorate degree in relevant technical areas.

Experience

Essential: Minimum 7 years of experience in digital health, health information systems, strategic planning, or related fields

Desirable: Experience working with WHO or other UN agencies.

Skills/Knowledge

·Strong command of concepts and approaches in digital health, health information systems, and strategic planning.

·Robust understanding of digital health and health information landscape in Tunisia.

·Demonstrated track record of developing strategic documents for governments and international agencies.

·Excellent communication, coordination, and project management skills.

·Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with partners in a team

·Ability to manage validation processes with diverse stakeholders.

Languages

Essential

Expert knowledge of French and Arabic.

Desirable

Intermediate knowledge of English.

Location

Home-based, Tunisia.

Travel

The consultant is not expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)

·Remuneration: TORs are classified at the national pay of NOD level.

·Expected duration of the contract:20 days in total during 1 September – 31 December 24.

WHO Competencies

Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model: Enhanced WHO global competency model

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply online through Stellis. For assessment of your application, please ensure that:

a)Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated.

b)All required details regarding your qualifications, education, and training are provided.

c)Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.

Additional information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions, or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions, and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.