National Consultant Rehabilitation Services and Disablity Inclusion

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. 

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages:

Educational Qualifications : 

Essential:

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

Experience

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
• 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

Language requirement:

• Basic knowledge of English (Read/Write/Speak)

Source: https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2405761