National Consultants for Technical Support on Development of New Circular to Replace Circular 15/2019/TT-BYT Detailing Procurement in Public Health Facilities

Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) Vietnam

           Two National Consultants for technical support on the development of a new Circular to replace Circular 15/2019/TT-BYT detailing procurement in public health facilities

I. Background

The global USAID LHSS helps low- and middle-income countries transition to sustainable, self-funded health finance systems that support high-performing overall health systems. The LHSS Activity in Vietnam will work with the Government of Vietnam (GVN) to advance greater local ownership of HIV and TB prevention and control. Led by Abt Associates, the four-year activity supports Vietnam in increasing its domestic financing for HIV and TB services in the context of declining donor funding, in using government resources more efficiently, and in assuming local ownership of HIV and TB prevention and control activities. Specific objectives are: (1) Support the GVN to strengthen its public financial management systems for public sector health and find greater efficiencies in social health insurance (SHI), (2) Increase and improve the efficiency of domestic financing of HIV prevention and treatment services; (3) Strengthen the capacity of Vietnam's supply chain management system; and (4) Integrate TB services into SHI.

Circular 15/2019/TT-BYT dated July 11^th 2019 by the Ministry of Health promulgates drug procurement in public health facilities and came into effect on October 1^st, 2019. The Circular regulates principles of bid package division, a basis for the development of bidder selection plan, bidding methods, and bid conduction using state budget and health insurance fund. The implementation of this Circular has been facing some difficulties and inadequacy which need revisions and updates to align with the actual situation of procurement at public health facilities.

The following points of Circular 15/2019 (below called “Circular 15”) are needed to be reviewed and updated including:

• Regulations on brand-name drugs or drugs with therapeutic equivalence: to address the upcoming regulations on transferring these types of drugs to the price negotiation list
• GMP criteria-based production standards applied for division of generic drug bidding package: to fix some overlapping and inconsistent points within the Circular 15.
• Responsibilities at levels for approval of bidder selection plan at health facilities: to cover the inconsistency with other regulations e.g. Law on local government organization
• Templates used for preparing bidding dossier such as tender guarantee paper, financial statement template, technical assessment criteria form: to update the inconsistent contents within the Circular
• Other contents related to extra procurement, drug form regulations in bidder selection plan: to make it consistent with other relevant regulations on centralized procurement.

Development of a new circular to replace Circular 15 of which articles are updated and revised to resolve all current bottlenecks of bidding and procurement in terms of legal basis will facilitate the drug procurement including ARVs in Vietnam.

II. Objectives and tasks of the assignment

Under the task “Strengthening the capacity of the Government of Vietnam to manage the quantification, procurement, distribution, dispensing, and reallocation of SHI-covered ARVs”, LHSS will engage two national consultants to provide technical assistance and work with the MOH/DPF on this portfolio of activities. The first one – the senior national Consultant will be a resource person to support the MOH in reviewing, revising Circular 15 and writing a new one, facilitating and presenting in any policy dialogues, meetings, and workshops related to this revision. The second Consultant will support the senior consultant and DPF in administrative and logistics procedures of the revision process and writing new Circular, preparing and organizing related technical meetings, discussions and workshops.

1. Consultant 1: Provide technical inputs and advisory supports for the revision of Circular 15/2019 on procurement of drugs in public health facilities

Tasks

• Review the bidding and procurement policies and regulations, legal documents, reports from the Ministry of Health, 63 departments of health and other organizations on the implementation of Circular 15. This helps identify the inconsistent, outdated contents to be revised, providing the foundation for new Circular development.
• Support DPF to organize and facilitate any policy dialogue, meetings, and workshops during the process of revision of Circular 15 and new circular development; consolidate opinions, comments and recommendations from dedicated agencies, relevant stakeholders, experts on the revision of Circular 15 and development of new Circular to replace it.
• Work with the Drafting Committee, Editing Group, and Technical Working Groups and other relevant stakeholders including Vietnam Social Security to provide technical inputs in revision and writing;
• Ensure information sharing on aspects of common interest between the project, DPF, and relevant stakeholders.
• Implement necessary steps to disseminate on the new Circular

Deliverables

• Monthly activity report on the progress of conducting the tasks. The monthly report will include technical inputs and advisory ideas on the Circular 15 revision process and the development of the new Circular. (As per the scope of work  agreed in the signed consultancy agreement)
  Due:  On the last day of each month.
• Draft and working versions of the revised Circular that highlight the changes.
• Final consultant report

2. Consultant 2: Provide supports on administration and logistics for the process of revision of Circular 15/2019 on procurement of drugs in public health facilities

Tasks:

• Support senior national consultant to collect relevant policies, regulations and legal documents on procurement, reports related to the implementation of Circular from 63 departments of health and other agencies for review and analysis
• Support DPF to prepare documents, coordinate and contact relevant stakeholders to organize technical meetings, dialogues, discussions, and workshops to collect opinions, recommendations from relevant experts and stakeholders on the revision process.
• Take notes in meetings/technical discussions/workshops, etc. Coordinate and follow up with involved stakeholders to consolidate documents.
• Provide other related supports to the project and MOH/PDF as needed.

Deliverables

• Monthly activity report on the progress of conducting the tasks and a tentative plan for next month. The monthly report will involve the consolidation of inputs on the revision of Circular and new Circular development. (As per the workplan agreed upon the contract signing)
  Due:  On the last day of each month.
• Notes and minutes of technical meetings, discussions and workshops for documenting ideas, comments and recommendations.
• Final consultant report

III. Management of this assignment

The two consultants will report to the Supply chain technical specialist, at LHSS Vietnam. The consultants will also work closely with MOH, the Department of Planning and Finance and other key government-led agencies as needed.

V. Location and Timing

5.1. Location 

The work will be carried out in Hanoi with traveling to the provinces if needed.

5.2. Timing  

The assignment is planned for the period from March  2022 through September 30^th 2022.

Consultant # 1: Estimated total working days is 50 days.
Consultant # 2: Estimated total working days is 50 days.

VI. Requirements

Consultant 1

• University degree or above in Pharmacy, or public health or public policy management.
• A strong understanding of the policy development on procurement in public health facilities.
• At least 30 years of experience working in the health sector; 8 years of experience in procurement, 6 years of experience in public administration in procurement
• Experience in the development of new circulars with at least 3 circulars on procurement including drug procurement
• In-depth knowledge and experience in policy analysis and development
• Ability in public coordination, administration and operation
• Strong understanding of consultation and advocacy
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, ability to transfer knowledge and skills
• Computer proficiency for written deliverables in standard MS Office software applications.
• Language: Vietnamese. A good command of English, written and spoken is an advantage

Consultant 2

• University degree or above in Pharmacy, public health, or public policy management.
• Understanding of procurement in the health sector.
• Ability in data collection, analysis, and management
• Focus on details, be careful, and be willing to learn
• Good skill in communication
• Computer proficiency for written deliverables in standard MS Office software applications.
• Language: Vietnamese.

To apply, please send your application documents to the following email:

[email protected]

Deadline: 10 March 2022

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.