National Consultant – Rehabilitation Services and Disablity Inclusion in Health, Phnom Penh

The consultant will provide technical and coordination support to the development, implementation and monitoring of policies, strategies and plans in Cambodia in order to strengthen rehabilitation in health systems including linkages with social services; and support equity in health for people with disability.

Specifically, this will include (but not be limited to) support to:

• plans and process for the transition of physical rehabilitation services from The Ministry of Social Affairs Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY) to the Ministry of Health (MoH)
• development and implementation of strategies, guidelines, and plans to strengthen rehabilitation in health systems
• development and implementation of a policy and strategic action plan on disability inclusion in the health sector as requested by Ministry of Health, including the use of and feedback on newly developed WHO tools
• needs and systems assessments to provide data and evidence for decision making in areas of rehabilitation, disability inclusion in the health sector and assistive technology
• appropriate inclusion of rehabilitation and disability in broader health systems development work supported by WHO including updates to hospital and primary health care packages (CPA MPA) and clinical practice guidelines, human resource planning and development, health financing approaches and the strengthening of primary health care
• Collaboration and engagement with development partners in disability and rehabilitation in Cambodia (including donors, NGOs, representative bodies, private sector and research organizations) including under and as part of the Australian DFAT supported ACCESS 2 programme.

The consultant will be expected to work closely with the MoH, Royal Government of Cambodia and with other key Ministries and institutions crucially relevant to the health needs of people with disability in Cambodia and strengthening of rehabilitation services and support.

Addressing the needs of people with disability and strengthening rehabilitation in health systems (including but not limited to for people with disability) is crucial as Cambodia continues efforts towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ensuring no-one is left behind.

In late 2022, following the advice of then Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Council of Ministers released a directive for the transfer of training school for prosthetists and orthotists and physical rehabilitation services from the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation to the Ministry of Health. A cross Ministerial Transition Committee was established, and planning commenced for a progressive transition over a two to three years period.

In July 2023, the MoH also established a Technical Working Group on the Health of Persons with Disabilities (TWG-HPD) to facilitate formulation of policies and strategic plans on health of persons with disabilities. Members of the TWG-HPD include officials from relevant departments of MoH and of MoSVY, Disability Action Council (DAC), as well as representatives from health facilities and various development partners.

Over this same period the World Health Organization has released a number of key global reports and policy and planning tools relevant to health equity for people with disability and strengthening rehabilitation in health systems. The Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities, released in December 2022, highlighted the health inequities experienced by people with disability due to a range of structural, social and institutional determinants and barriers including in the health system itself and calls for government leadership in the inclusion of disability in health systems strengthening efforts. As part of the this report the “Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities – A Guide for Action” was drafted as a strategic planning toolkit to provide practical guidance for Member States for action to implement recommendations from the report and advance health equity for persons with disabilities.

In 2019 WHO released a guide for action on rehabilitation in health systems. Related work culminated in the release of a series of evidence-based packages of interventions that should be prioritized for integration into the health system to meet the growing population needs for rehabilitation across the life course and across the continuum of care, such as children with developmental disorders, people with chronic conditions and living with the consequences of injuries as well as older people. In addition, in 2023 the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) endorsed the historic resolution on strengthening rehabilitation in health systems. This resolution calls for expanding and integrating rehabilitation in health systems as part of UHC, emphasizing the importance of rehabilitation in primary care and as part of emergency preparedness and response. The Ministry of Health has requested WHO support, in coordination with other development partners, for a number of relevant initiatives including the development of a policy and strategic action plan for disability inclusion in the health sector. As part of this Cambodia will be one of the leading countries in applying, adapting and providing feedback on use of the WHO Guide for Action for Health Equity for People with Disabilities. In addition, WHO has also been requested to support assessments and strategies for the integration and strengthening of rehabilitation in health systems as well as access to assistive technology working closely with other development partners.

The consultant contracted under this Terms of Reference will be required to support the initial phases of work until the end of December 2024.

Under the supervision of the Health System Coordinator, WHO Country Office of Cambodia, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

Output 1: Support strategies, guidelines and plans for the strengthening of rehabilitation in health systems.

Deliverable 1.1 Engage with and support as requested the committee and relevant departments for transition of training school for prosthetists and orthotists and physical rehabilitation services from MoSVY to the MoH.

Deliverable 1.2 Provide key information, data and other evidence consolidation as useful to inform decisions to be taken to support the smooth transition of training school for prosthetists and orthotists and physical rehabilitation services, including advice on financing models.

Deliverable 1.3 Support the Ministry of Health in coordination with MoSVY and other relevant line ministries and stakeholders in the planning for and initial phases of development of a rehabilitation in health systems strategic plan, including providing advice on financing models.
Deliverable 1.4 Provide inputs to and coordination support as requested for other health systems development and social health protection activities that include a focus on rehabilitation including the rehabilitation sub-working groups as part of updating of the CPA, clinical practice guidelines, and MPA.

Output 2: Support needs and systems assessments for scaling up access to assistive technology in Cambodia

Deliverable 2.1 Provide technical advice on the systems assessment for AT to be finalized in 2024.

Output 3: In support of the TWG-HPD Ministry of Health develop and update an implementation plans for the development of the policy and strategy on disability inclusion in the health sector with monitoring and evaluation framework.

Deliverable 3.1 Prepare and circulate an updated concept note and implementation plan for the development of the policy / strategy on disability inclusion in the health sector for consideration by the TWG-HPD.

Deliverable 3.2 Work closely with Ministry of Health, WHO (CO, RO and HQ) and other key partners and stakeholders to elaborate a situation analysis of the health status, system and needs of people with disability using the existing materials including data.

Deliverable 3.3 Facilitate TWG-HPD to proceed as scheduled and coordinate TWG-HPD, the secretariats of TWG-HPD and stakeholders in preparation and in the discussion of TWG-HPD and relevant meetings.

Essential: University degree in public health, social care, healthcare planning and management or equivalent

Desirable: Advanced qualifications relevant to rehabilitation and the health needs of people with disability

Essential: Minimum two years of experience working in health planning and management in or related to social care and community health, particularly related to disability and rehabilitation in Cambodia.

Experience in working collaboratively and coordinating across sectors and with a range of stakeholders

Experience in development and facilitation of planning materials and working groups

Desirable: Previous experience working collaboratively with a range of Departments within the Ministry of Health

Development and use of evidence for policy decision making including use of secondary qualitative and quantitative information as well as primary information collection relevant to needs and systems assessments

Basic knowledge of English (Read/Write/Speak)

On-site : WHO Cambodia Country Office and Ministry of Health

The consultant is expected to be able to travel within Cambodia to conduct field visits to provinces, as necessary.

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