Term of Reference

Background

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is implementing the Health Sector Reform Strategy and is moving towards greater hospital autonomy for large hospitals. Efforts have been ongoing to strengthen hospital management and autonomy with system design and training requiring a comprehensive hospital management capacity building approach.  

The Government of the Lao PDR has received a loan of $20 million and a grant of $4.95 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in support of the Greater Mekong Subregion Border Areas Health Project,^[1] with the Ministry of Health as the Executing Agency. Increased migration and regional integration have put additional pressure on health services in border areas. The Project will (i) strengthen health services in Phongsaly, Savannakhet and Champasack provinces with upgrading healthcare facilities and equipment, enhancing the skills of healthcare professionals, and improved border inspection; (ii) enhance gender-responsive health services for migrants and other vulnerable persons in these provinces, and (iii) develop the electronic medical record system. Among others, the Project Management Unit (PMU) in the Department of Planning and Finance (DPF) is aiming to strengthen hospital management in supported health facilities in the 3 provinces with consulting services, system development and various training activities. A monitoring and evaluation firm is also being engaged to support hospital assessment. 

Objective/Purpose of the Assignment:

Strengthen hospital management in Phongsaly, Savannakhet and Champasack provinces.

Scope of work.

The international hospital management specialist will aim to strengthen hospital management efficiency and effectiveness in targeted provinces to better address the health needs of the target catchment populations including vulnerable groups within available resources. Building on ongoing sector developments, the specialist will lead a participatory planning approach to develop/strengthen and test an essential hospital management package (EHMP) and a hospital management capacity building program towards a phased hospital accreditation process. The EHMP will be based on tested international experiences for continuous quality improvement (CQI) including management teamwork, communication tools, skills training modules, and results-based monitoring. The international expert will be supported by a national hospital management expert responsible for supporting the international expert, coordinating and contributing to the design and implementation of the program, reporting, and facilitating institutional measures to sustain the program.

Detailed Tasks:

To develop/strengthen an EHMP and hospital management capacity building program towards annual hospital accreditation, the expert will:   

1. For a period of up to 3 years, participate in monthly coordination meetings of the program task force or technical advisory group of MOH, provincial and hospital staff; and experts including the hospital management specialists, the PMU team, the M&E firm, and experts from other projects;
2. For a period of one year, review monthly progress and task force reports and conduct briefing for the Project Director and PMU team as requested;
3. Ensure timely roll-out and continuity of the hospital management capacity building program with demonstrated results through quarterly progress report during one year period;
4. Review the summary of relevant MOH policies, plans, decrees, and standards regarding hospital management arrangements including for staff management, maintenance, five goods and one satisfaction, infection prevention and control, quality of care, supplies, finance, and monitoring;
5. Review and summarize health sector reforms in hospital management improvement, accreditation, and autonomy;
6. Summarize national hospital management standards, processes, and best practices;
7. Support hospital management performance assessment in terms of actual design, practices, and operational effectiveness jointly with the M&E firm;
8. Help develop a suitable EHMP and hospital management training program;
9. Guide development of operational guidelines and standards for each hospital management area (including for private services and customer feedback);
10. Develop practical training sessions for relevant topics using peer-to-peer sharing and resource materials to build the capacity of the hospital management team;
11. Arrange feedback from staff, patients and community through the M&E firm and conduct a workshop for dissemination of results and lessons learned;
12. Provide other relevant advice as agreed from time to time with the Project Director;
13. Prepare a job completion report with updated program and EHMP.

Output/Reporting Requirements:

1. Monthly progress reports including of activities (field visits, training, workshop) and task force; and quarterly program performance reports;
2. Summary of MOH policies, plans, decrees, and standards regarding hospital management arrangements; health sector reforms in hospital management improvement, accreditation, and autonomy; international best practices; and hospital management assessments tools;
3. Report on assessment of core hospital management standards, processes and performance in terms of actual design, practices, and operational effectiveness with support of the M&E firm;
4. Proposal for EHMP and hospital management training program;
5. Initial and tested operational guidelines for hospital management functions;
6. Developed practical training sessions;
7. Final job completion report.

Qualifications:

The international expert will have a master’s degree in hospital administration, business administration or equivalent and at least 10 years of work experience in the public sector. S/he will have previous work experience in the management of health services, and designing and implementing management interventions to improve the quality of healthcare. S/he will have a good understanding of health governance and the development of social accountability tools. S/he will have a strong track record of work in projects funded by international organizations. The expert must have English language skills (both written and spoken). International work experience in the GMS is preferred. The assignment may be extended if justified.