Vietnam Senior Technical Officer – Provincial Implementation

Background

As acknowledged by many stakeholders, and expressly indicated by the Government of Vietnam (GVN), Social Health Insurance is the most appropriate long-term funding and financing vehicle for Vietnam to take on the direct financial burden related to HIV/AIDS programs as donor partners are planning to transition out of the country. However, as development partners and domestic advocates such as the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) are making the case for an increased level of domestic funding for ARVs, the reality is such that, even with increased resources, the GVN would have to address a number of challenges before being able to effectively utilize the funds. Those include:

1. Many outpatient clinics (OPCs) currently offering HIV services financed by external partners are not eligible to sign contracts with Provincial and National Social Security;
2. Provincial Social Security officials don’t have a defined pricing mechanism and practical guidance for reimbursing HIV services;
3. The SHI benefit package, to include HIV, has not been officially approved and it is still lacking preventive services;
4. The GVN lacks a centralized procurement system for ARVs and other specialized drugs;
5. Vietnam Social Security lacks the ability to adequately forecast the additional liabilities from HIV and other services in the benefit package as Vietnam’s demographics evolve;
6. There is a lack of a consistent and evidence-based advocacy strategy with GVN policy and decision makers around full inclusion of HIV in Health Insurance.

Objective:

The overall objective of HFG/Vietnam is to support the Government of Vietnam in ensuring the sustainability of HIV/AIDS programs with financing from Social Health Insurance as donor resources diminish in the medium and long term.  Building on past successes and learning from roadblocks and hard lessons, HFG will continue the work of integration of OPCs, reduce the financial burdens of SHI co-payments and premium for PLHIV and ensure the best and affordable HIV package is included in SHI list. 

HFG works with key government partners from central to provincial level including: Ministry of Health, Vietnam Authority for AIDS Control, Ministry of Finance, Vietnam Social Security, Provincial Department of Health, Provincial Social Security, Provincial AIDS Centres and health facilities.

In addressing the identified challenges, the incumbent Senior Technical Officer (STO), Provincial Implementation, will directly contribute to the following tasks:

1- Provide support and technical assistance to MoH and Vietnam Social Security in the integration of Out-Patient Clinics (OPCs) for eligibility of reimbursement by the Health Insurance fund

Enabling SHI contract and provision of HIV/AIDS service paid by HI fund

The STO will provide advice and technical support to DOHs and health facilities in the HFG supported provinces to be capable for HIV/AIDS service provision reimbursed by SHI fund by end of 2017. HFG is currently working in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh city, Can Tho, Thai Binh and Hoa Binh province. With the extension of HFG support to another 3 provinces, the STO will focus on establishing a working relationship with DOH, PAC, PSS and health facilities to enable the implementation and progress of HFG technical activities in these provinces.

Address hospital and provincial staff’s managerial and governance shortcomings.

The inclusion of HIV/AIDS services in the list of those currently reimbursed by the SHI fund will require additional administrative and managerial tasks for staff at health facility and provincial level, including DOH, PAC and PSS. The STO will coordinate HFG’s support in capacity building for health facilities on issues of claim control for HIV/AIDS, reimbursement procedures for HIV/AIDS expenditures with the administrative requirements asked of the hospital staff as they manage patient records. This will be of particular importance with regards to the tracking of utilization of ARVs, to allow quantification at the facility level;

2- Conduct Monitoring and Impact Evaluation when delivering the cluster of HIV services through BSHP at all levels of service delivery

As the STO works with the various Departments of Health and assists them with supportive supervision missions, the facilities supported will be monitored to create evidence about the impact of the activities and to record the challenges and the solutions identified along the way for future application of similar activities in other provinces. The final impact evaluation at the end of the year will be circulated for sharing of experiences and lessons learned.

3. Other tasks as identified by the Director of Health Financing, Director of Health Insurance or Chief of Party.

Key Responsibilities

• Take an active technical role for the implementation of assigned work plan activities in support of the transition of HIV funding and management to the GVN.
• Support HFG and government partners in technical analysis and studies as needed, in particular with regards to building and using evidence to generate support for the sustainable HIV financing transition agenda
• Lead the coordination of activities with regards to the effective implementation of assigned tasks and as directed by the Director of Health Financing, Director of Health Insurance or Chief of Party;
• Coordinate the activities of international and local consultants working on assigned activities.
• Represent HFG and update the COP on a regular basis with regards to participation to technical activities, meetings and workshops.

Skills/Knowledge Required:

• An advanced degree in economics, finance, management, public health  or equivalent, and at least 7-10 years of relevant work experience, experience in HIV highly desired;
• Proven experience with facilitation and coordination of public health programs in Vietnam;
• Professional experience and skills in design and implementation of programs in support of health financing and/or coordination, and/or strategic information and planning;
• Knowledge of Social Health Insurance (SHI) issues and key stakeholders in Vietnam, including experience with MOH and VSS highly desirable;
• Basic knowledge of statistical technique is desirable;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government counterparts and coordinate various actors such as different Ministry of Health units, other ministries and government agencies, donors and NGOs;
• Proven planning, networking, and organizational skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Vietnamese;

Note: The position is expected to travel within Vietnam up to 50% of time.

To apply, please visit www.abtassociates.com. 

Deadline: 30 November 2016

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.