Consultancy-Support Government of Lao PDR, Ministry of Health on the Implementation... Tender

Procurement Summary

Country : Lao PDR

Summary : Consultancy-Support Government of Lao PDR, Ministry of Health on the Implementation of WHO Standard Assessment of Rehabilitation (STAR)

Deadline : 06 Dec 2018

Other Information

Notice Type : Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 28907034

Document Ref. No. :

Competition : ICB

Financier : United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Purchaser Ownership : -

Tender Value : Refer Document

Purchaser's Detail

Purchaser : HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL - HUMANITY & INCLUSION
Attn: Pasala, Health and Rehabilitaion Technical Coordinator 51/1 Hong Kae Road Ban Sisangvone, Vientiane
Lao PDR
Email :p.maneewong@hi.org

Tender Details

Tenders are invited for Consultancy-Support Government of Lao PDR, Ministry of Health on the Implementation of WHO Standard Assessment of Rehabilitation (STAR).

Terms of Reference

Consultancy-Support Government of Lao PDR, Ministry of Health on the Implementation of WHO Standard Assessment of Rehabilitation (STAR)

1. Context

Lao PDR is a landlocked country with 17 provinces and a population surpassing 6.7 million people. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes, are on the rise in Lao PDR. All produce significant increases in short and long-term disability. In 2014, NCDs are estimated to account for 48% of the total deaths in the country. In addition to NCDs, there are rising numbers of road traffic crashes, aging populations, and the ever-present risk of injury from un-exploded ordnance (UXO) that contaminates nearly 25% of the country-s villages .

Globally, there is a substantial and ever-increasing need for rehabilitation, driven by health and epidemiological trends such as population ageing and an increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases. In many parts of the world, particularly low- and middle-income countries, the capacity to provide rehabilitation is limited and fails to adequately address the needs of the population. It is critical that Member States are equipped to address existing barriers to scaling up rehabilitation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed, and is currently piloting, a Rehabilitation Support Package, providing technical support and practical guidance for governments to strengthen the health system in order to provide quality rehabilitation services. The Rehabilitation Support Package aligns with recommendations from the WHO Rehabilitation in Health Systems, objective 2 of the WHO Global Disability Action Plan 2014-21, and the Rehabilitation 2030 Call for Action.

The Rehabilitation Support Package offers guidance on the four-step process of rehabilitation system assessment, strategic planning, establishing a monitoring and evaluation framework, and implementation, using the following tools:
• Standard Assessment of Rehabilitation (STAR)
• Guidance for Rehabilitation Strategic Planning (GRASP)
• Framework for Rehabilitation Monitoring and Evaluation (FRAME)
• Action on Rehabilitation (ACTOR)

1. Summary of USAID Okard Activity and MoH In-kind grant

The USAID Okard Activity is a 5-year project managed and implemented by World Education in collaboration with Humanity & Inclusion that intends to improve and sustain the independent living and functional ability of persons with disabilities, regardless of factors such as age, sex, gender expression, ethnic origin, or indigenous status, and their households in Lao PDR.

The Activity is guided by the philosophy of Disability Inclusive Development (DID) and the belief that no one should be left behind. The Activity has three main components - Component 1: Health; Component 2: Economic Empowerment; Component 3: Stakeholder Engagement; and in addressing these three components, World Education is taking a two-tiered approach to its goal of improving and sustaining the optimized functional ability and independent living of persons with disabilities in Lao PDR. Tier 1 is a systems-centered approach focused on government of Lao PDR ownership and long-term sustainability, while Tier 2 examines and supports the individual needs of persons with disabilities and the communities that support them. It will be implemented in three target provinces - Vientiane Capital, Xieng Khouang and Savannakhet.

Under the USAID Okard Activity, the Ministry of Health, Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation will receive technical and financial assistance via an in-kind grant to support the implementation of an action plan on the strategic and operational objectives of the National Rehabilitation Strategy (2018-2025) piloted in two province health departments in Savannakhet and Xieng Khouang, and in one (1) district of each of the 2 selected provinces.

1. Methodology of WHO Standardised Assessment of Rehabilitation (STAR)
To implement the ten actions of WHO Rehabilitation 2030 and as groundwork for the MoH National Rehabilitation Strategy (2018-2025), the Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation (DH&R) of the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Lao PDR will use the WHO Rehabilitation Support Package to strengthen the health system to provide rehabilitation. By implementing the Standard Assessment of Rehabilitation Systems (STARS), the Ministry of Health will have a better understanding of the current situation of the rehabilitation system in Lao PDR. The STAR comprises 4 steps:
• Phase A: Prepare for situation assessment
• Phase B: Complete the Rehabilitation Capacity Questionnaire
• Phase C: Conduct in-country assessment and utilize the Rehabilitation Maturity Model
• Phase D: Write and finalize report, disseminate and communicate findings

The MoH Rehabilitation Committee and the Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation will lead the 3 main phases which are (1) data collection using the Rehabilitation Capacity Questionnaires and (2) using a WHO trained consultant to grade components of rehabilitation by performing the Rehabilitation Maturity Model (RMM) (3) Finalize a report and disseminate findings. The report written by the consultant will provide the Ministry of Health with data on rehabilitation from across the health system building blocks, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and making recommendations for planning.

As recommended by WHO, a Rehabilitation Technical Working Group will need to be created at MoH prior to the visit of the consultant to coordinate the four-phase process. On October 31st 2018, Dr Bounkong Syhavong, Minister of Health signed an agreement for the creation of a Rehabilitation Committee to enhance recognition and fully integration of rehabilitation medicine in the five central hospitals (Mahosot, Setthathirath, Friendship, Children Hospital and Mother and Child Hospital) and in the three centers (Ophthalmologic Center, Dermatologic Center and Center for medical
Rehabilitation) under the Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation.

1. Objectives of the Consultancy:

I. Conduct the In-country assessment utilizing the Rehabilitation Maturity Model (RMM) assessment
The consultant will carry out assessment tasks with DH&R representative(s) which may include a combination of key informant interviews, focus group discussions and site visits. This additional information collected will be interpreted and triangulated data with RCQ data and graded using the RMM four levels grading system across 35 items within 6 domains to determine the maturity of the rehabilitation and the level of action needed to strengthen the system based on the health system building blocks and log frame of health system performance.

II. Collect data and analyse the current Lao PDR Physiotherapy (PT) training program against international standards
As part of the STAR assessment related to the RMM assessment of the workforce domain, the consultant will review the existing academic and clinical education training program on Physiotherapy of Faculty of Medical Technology (FMT), UHS to identify gaps related to international standards. An annex to the STAR report will include initial recommendations based on the analysis as a starting point for University of Health Sciences (UHS), FMT and MoH Dept. Professional Health Education (PHE) to consider an action plan that supports the development of rehabilitation training courses that align with international standards.

1. Role and responsibilities of MoH Rehabilitation Committee and Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation

Task Person Responsible Estimated Timeframe
Department of Healthcare & Rehabilitation send an information letter and Rehabilitation Capacity Questionnaire (RCQ) to central level hospitals and centers, and provincial health departments Dr Bouathep PHOUMINDR 6-9 November 2018
DH&R facilitate meeting with 5 Central Hospitals and 3 Centers to complete RCQ Dr Bouathep PHOUMINDR 26 November 2018
Provincial Health Departments return completed RCQ to DH&R Dr Bouathep PHOUMINDR 10 December 2018
DH&R consolidate all data (results of RCQ and PT curricula) and send to Consultant TBC TBC
DH&R plan the in-country assessment schedule to visit central level and Provincial Health Departments in Xieng Khouang and Savannakhet Provinces and share with the consultant TBC TBC
Support the consultant to conduct in-country assessment site visits at central level and Provincial Health Departments in Xieng Khouang and Savannahket Provinces and collect data using the Rehabilitation Maturity Model TBC January 2019
Review draft STAR report and provide feedback to the consultant Rehabilitation Committee February 2019
Validate final version of the STAR report and present to Ministry of Health, directors of central hospitals, Provincial Health Departments and directors of provincial hospitals. Chairperson of Rehabilitation Committee February/ March 2019

1. Roles and Responsibilities of the Consultant:
Task Estimated Timeframe
Phase 1: Preparation (desk based)
Desk Review of key documents on rehabilitation in Lao PDR (including PT curricula), and relevant USAID Okard documents December 2018
Initial review/ analysis of RCQ data from MOH December 2018/ January 2019
Phase 2: In-country Assessment (3 weeks)
Conduct in-country assessment site visits and complete analysis using Rehabilitation Maturity Model (RMM) Mid/ End January 2019

Collect data on PT curricula
Conduct de-brief session with initial feedback/results with MoH Rehabilitation Committee and USAID Okard Technical Team
Phase 3: Report writing (desk based)
Produce draft STAR report and share with Rehabilitation Committee February 2019

Revise STAR report based on MOH Rehabilitation Committee f

Documents

 Tender Notice