Principal Technical Advisor, Appropriate Medicines Use USAID UHSC Placement – Management Sciences for Health (MSH)



Organisation: Management Sciences for Health (MSH)
Project Name: USAID Uganda Health Supply Chain UHSC Project
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Chief of Party
Job ID: 13-8866
About MSH:
Management
Sciences for Health (MSH) is an international non-profit health organization
composed of nearly 2500 people from more than 74 nationalities working in over
50 countries. Our mission is to save lives and improve the health of the
world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge
and action in public health. Together with our partners, we are helping
managers and leaders in developing countries to create stronger management systems
that improve health services for the greatest health impact.
About USAID UHSC Project:
USAID
funded Uganda Health Supply Chain is a five year program supporting the
Government of Uganda’s health system to improve the availability and
accessibility of essential medicines and health supplies (EMHS).The expected
results of are to:1) strengthen national policies and strategies and support
cost-effective, equitable, and transparent utilization of EMHS resources; 2)
strengthen country capacity for effective management and utilization of EMHS;
and 3) increase availability and access of EMHS among priority populations.
Job Summary: The Principal Technical Advisor will be
responsible for designing, implementation and assessments of initiatives
targeted at improving appropriate medicine use in Uganda as part of the USAID
funded Uganda Health Supply Chain (UHSC) program whose aim is to strengthen
rational drug use. In developing countries, less than 40% of patients in the
public sector and 30% in the private sector are treated according to standard
treatment guidelines. Irrational antimicrobial use is a particularly widespread
problem and a key contributor to the global menace of antimicrobial resistance
(AMR). The PTA-AMU will work with the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership
Uganda to leverage their current research to help frame our rational use
activities and develop appropriate antibiotic use policies. The PTA will if
feasible use tools and resources that many countries worldwide have used to
improve medicine use. The PTA-AMU works with, coordinates and collaborates with
stakeholders in the Ministry of Health, in the government and PNFP health
facilities at all levels of care, academia, Uganda Medicines and Therapeutic
and Advisory Committee and others interested in improving rational use of
medicine. The PTA-AMU will play a key role in capacity building and ensure UHSC
program’s holistic approach to increasing appropriate use of EMHS in Uganda
intertwines policy, regulatory, managerial, financial, educational and
performance assessment interventions at all health system levels. Operational
research will be an important aspect of assessing impact of designed
intervention performed under guidance of Harvard University and the UHSC team.
The PTA-AMU will work to strengthen Medicines Therapeutic Committees (MTC) in
collaboration with the International Network for Rational Use of Drugs-Uganda
and the Uganda National Appropriate Medicines Use group (UNAMU), Pharmacy
Division and the MTC by implementing the revised strategy, support the AMU
secondment at Pharmacy Division and assessing impact. Through the MTC and other
AMU initiatives the UHSC aims at reducing irrational antibiotic use, strengthen
adherence to standard treatment guidelines in general and especially for
priority and most common conditions at primary health care level and ensure
more appropriate clinical use of limited funds. Our approach might include
developing a package of behavior change interventions based on international
best practices aimed at HCII/III providers to diagnose and treat for
appropriate conditions or refer to the correct facility. The PTA-AMU will also
aim to make services more client-focused by institutionalizing appointment
systems and monitoring adherence to appointments a practice that has proved
successful in Uganda and other countries as a way to improve treatment
adherence. The PTA-AMU will take part and guide the process of revising the
Uganda Clinical Guidelines and the Uganda essential medicines and health
supplies list.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
  • Coordinate and collaborate with stakeholders
    in the Ministry of Health, the Rational Drug Use Unit in Pharmacy
    Division, in the government and PNFP health facilities at all levels of
    care, academia, Uganda Medicines and Therapeutic and Advisory Committee
    and other stakeholders interested in improving rational use of medicine.
  • The PTA-AMU will work with the Global
    Antibiotic Resistance Partnership Uganda to leverage their current
    research to help frame our rational use activities and develop appropriate
    antibiotic use policies in Uganda
  • Work closely with UNAMU, strengthen the
    collaboration with the International Network for Rational Drug Use
    (INRUD), Pharmacy division, Harvard University and other interested
    stakeholders and coordinate, develop, implement and assess new AMU
    interventions in Uganda
  • Develop, pilot and assess strategies that
    will improve appropriate medicine use for selected priority diseases and
    adherence to standard treatment guidelines.
  • Provide guidance and support in the
    implementation and assessment of the proposed multipronged strategy to
    strengthen medicines and therapeutic committees
  • Render support and guide in the revision,
    update and dissemination of the Uganda Clinical Guidelines (UCG) and the
    Essential Medicines and Health Supplies List (EMHSLU)
  • Mentor and supervise the Appropriate
    Medicines Use Technical Officers seconded to Pharmacy Division
  • Work closely with academic centers and health
    professions organizations to review and revise, as appropriate, training
    materials and expand training opportunities.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 
  • The ideal candidate should preferably be medical
    doctor or Master in Clinical pharmacy preferably combined with an MPH,
    strong clinical skills and documented keen interest and experience in AMU
  • A minimum of eight years’ experience working
    with or in a clinical setting or public health programmes with strong
    understanding of the essential medicines concept and rational medicines
    use
  • Practical experience in designing and
    implementing intervention studies;
  • Broad knowledge and understanding of the
    Ugandan government and private not for profit health system
  • Training material development and training
    facilitation skills required.
  • Previous experience with capacity-building of
    public sector staff is an added advantage.
  • Past exposure, experience and expertise in
    guideline development
  • Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing
    priorities and shifting deadlines is a must. So are strong administrative
    and communications skills.
  • Demonstrated management, administrative,
    leadership and coordination skills as well as ability to pay attention to
    detail. Strong teamwork and team-building skills
  • Strong English skills required, including
    ability to write technical reports and documents
  • Demonstrated computer skills, including
    knowledge of MS Word, Excel and Power Point. Ability to use statistical
    packages such as STATA is an added advantage.
How to Apply:
All
suitably qualified and interested candidates who wish to join the Management
Sciences for Health in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to Apply
Online by clicking on the link below.
Deadline:19th February, 2016
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