Consultancy for HIV Medicines Software (HMED) Assessment

Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) Vietnam

HIV Medicines Software (HMED) Assessment

I.               Background:

In 2020, with PEPFAR support, the web-based Electronic ARV Drug Management Tool (HMED) was developed to help the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) to manage the supply, reallocation, and utilization of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs from all funding sources for about 156,000 HIV patients on treatment at more than 400 health facilities nationwide. HMED is currently being used by ARV treatment health facilities, Provincial Center of Disease Control (CDC)/ Provincial HIV/AIDS Control (PAC), and VAAC to manage ARV drugs.

HMED modules and their functions were designed in compliance with ARV management procedures and reporting formats under Decision 165/QD-AIDS and Circular 28/2017/TT-BYT. In 2021, VAAC developed additional HMED modules on latent TB treatment management, hepatitis C (Hep-C) treatment management in HIV-infected people, and a treatment monitoring book for Hep-C and monitoring the HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

In the same year, Circular 22/2020/TT-BYT on the management of ARV drugs procured by national centralized bid, using SHI fund, was issued with changes in ARV management procedures. In addition, the management of ARV drugs recently procured by price negotiation methods under Circular 15/2019/TT-BYT is also different from the management of other ARV drugs. Unfortunately, the current functions in HMED software have not reflected such changes.  Furthermore, donors will stop providing funding for VAAC to rent infrastructure to maintain the HMED system in the case that the amount of PrEP users database and services providers have grown rapidly. It is imperative that HMED should be integrated into the MOH health information system and data warehouse in order to become an official and sustainable HIV management system.

To operationalize the integration, the current HMED system needs to be assessed following the national SOP on Software engineering - Software Product Quality Requirements and Evaluation (Decision 99/QD-CNTT dated 18 June 2021) and national standards TCVN 10540:2014 ISO/IEC 25051:2006 in the assessment of the quality of a software (The National Standard Assessment Criteria). Upon request from VAAC, LHSS will provide support to VAAC through an independent software evaluation agency to conduct the HMED system assessment based on these National Standard Assessment Criteria, to evaluate the feasibility of the integration of the HMED into the MOH’s health information system.

II.            Objectives:

• To assess the responsiveness of the current HMED system based on the National Standard Assessment Criteria, particularly in the system infrastructure, management modules, information security, the current functions of HMED in the management of ARV drugs, and contents related to HIV treatment/pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV.
• To propose solutions based on the assessment results to improve and optimize the HMED system to meet the requirements of the National Standard Assessment Criteria for integrating the HMED system into the MOH health information system and data warehouse.

III.          Scope of work:

The assessment will go through the following items:

• The level of meeting the original requirements in terms of the system functions, and infrastructure requirements.
• The level of meeting the routine work requirements for the drug management functions for different user groups at all levels (at health facilities, provincial, central levels).
• The advantages and limitations encountered in the process of using the HMED at all levels, and suggestions for improvement.
• The current system's capacity to meet the need for upgraded ARV drug management functions, as well as the possibility of integrating the HMED system into the MOH health information system and data warehouse.
• Information system security assurance.
• Recommendations and proposed solutions.

IV.          Deliverables:

• The assessment results and related explanations as to system platform and infrastructure and the system functions of the current HMED system are in compliance with the above-mentioned National Standard Assessment Criteria.
• The solutions based on the assessment results to improve and optimize the HMED system to meet the requirements for integrating the HMED system into the MOH health information system and data warehouse.

V.             Requirements for capacity and human resources:

• The contractor should be independent of the company that developed the HMED software.
• At least 5 years of experience in software development.
• Priority is given to contractors with experience in building products related to health system management, or who have a deep understanding of the Software Product Quality Requirements and Evaluation (Decision 99/QD-CNTT dated 18 June 2021) and national standards TCVN 10540:2014 ISO/IEC 25051:2006 in the assessment of the quality of a software.
• The contractor is not in the process of litigation or dispute in court.

VI.          Submission timeline and contact point:

The LHSS Vietnam project, funded by USAID and implemented by Abt Associates, will assist VAAC to conduct the HIV medicines software (HMED) assessment. Thus, we are looking for a professional company specializing in software development and consultation service to do this job. Any professional company is interested in providing this service, please contact us at [email protected] to receive RFP. Deadline for submitting the company’s credentials, technical and financial proposals: 10 April 2022.