BACKGROUND

In September 2017, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded a five-year Health Safe, Affordable, and Effective Medicines (SAFEMed) contract to the Management Sciences for Health (MSH). SAFEMed applies health system-strengthening best practices to create evidence-based interventions and strengthen Ukraine’s pharmaceutical system in line with the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) health care reform objectives. SAFEMed seeks to improve access to appropriate, quality medicines to maximize availability within MOH’s budgetary constraints. SAFEMed interventions will institutionalize rational medicine selection, strengthen and systematize public procurement of pharmaceuticals and commodities, support sustainable public sector pharmaceutical financing, and strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain in collaboration with the Government of Ukraine (GOU), the MOH and the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU), civil society partners, other implementing partners, and the private sector. By the end of SAFEMed, Ukraine’s pharmaceutical system will be more transparent and cost-efficient and the availability of medicines will increase, thereby supporting the GOU goal of a health care system that produces desired health outcomes.

In pursuit of its goal, SAFEMed has three primary project objectives:

1. Strengthening governance within the pharmaceutical sector of Ukraine;
2. Optimizing the financing of the pharmaceutical sector; and
3. Increasing the availability and appropriate use of medicines in Ukraine.

Currently, developed countries across the world are actively involved in establishing technologies and systems to track individual packs of medicines from manufacturer to consumer. This technology is improving the identification of counterfeit and sub-standard medicines and instances of substitution of the authentic product with a product that is not the same. Countries around Ukraine are adopting such systems to increase supply chain transparency, reduce the risk of counterfeit medicines, and increase quality assurance capability. Ukraine risks being left behind and becoming a destination of choice for non-compliant medicines unless the country adopts similar technologies. In line with the MOH strategy, SAFEMed is providing technical assistance to the MOH to:

 - Understand the environment and technologies around verification (or serialization, as it is also known)

- Develop a national strategy and an implementation plan for adopting such technology in Ukraine moving forward.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Technical Advisor - Pharmaceutical Services will support the development, piloting and implementation of the medicines verification system in Ukraine working side by side with the Ministry of Health and its agencies, patient groups and industry.

S/he will also support the introduction of bioequivalence standards for generics, bio-similars and hybrids in Ukraine through the implementation of the Action Plan developed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Health in consultation with external stakeholders.

Medicines Verification & Serialization in Ukraine (45%)

• Facilitate communications and meetings with key stakeholders from the government, private sector and civil society in Ukraine;
• Facilitate the development of the Action Plan with clear deadlines and milestones for implementation of verification and serialization system in Ukraine;
• Collect data related to verification activities; analyze and prepare reports;
• Support the conduct of the international and national meetings and roundtables on verification and serialization organized or supported by SAFEMed;
• Document key findings and recommendations from the meetings.

Bioequivalence Standards (45%)

• Facilitate legislation changes forwarded to clear definitions of bioequivalence related processes within Ukrainian legislation and Ukrainian-EU legislation;
• Facilitate each stage for the Action plan of the Ukrainian bioequivalence strategy ;
• Participate in the MOH working group on bioequivalence;
• Support the conduct of the international and national bioequivalence meetings and roundtables organized or supported by SAFEMed;
• Document key findings and recommendations from the meetings.

Technical writing (10%)

• Work with the SAFEMed Senior Technical Advisor, as direct Supervisor, and CoP on presentation, narrative reports, technical briefs and other materials in the areas of verification and serialization as well as bioequivalence.
• Other duties as assigned in medicines verification, bioequivalence and reimbursement

REQUIRED MINIMUM EXPERIENCE:

• At least five years, but preferred seven years, of work experience in healthcare and/or life sciences, including familiarity with healthcare service delivery and pharmaceutical policies in Ukraine;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with others in and across the organization to accomplish team goals;
• Experience with clinical studies, information technology in healthcare or with pharmaceutical products registration is not required but highly appreciated.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Ability to analyze data, draw conclusions and develop summary recommendations;
• Ability to search peer-review and grey literature in English, Ukrainian and Russian;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including presentations, meetings and report writing;
• Fluency in both English and Russian/Ukrainian languages required (both written and spoken);
• Self-starter, ability to work independently under minimum supervision and oversight;
• Some management skills, the experience of setting up and working through national working groups mechanism;   
• Strong analytic skills, including the ability to synthesize and understand business issues to provide solutions   

 MINIMAL EDUCATION LEVEL:

Required:

• At least Bachelor’s degree in pharmacology, economics, law, business management; public health or other related fields.

• Postgraduate degree preferred 

REPORTING

• The candidate will report directly to SAFEMed Senior Technical Advisor, Pharmaceutical Finance

 DUTIES PERFORMANCE LOCATION: Kyiv, Ukraine

 DURATION OF DUTIES PERFORMANCE:  

The proposed duration of this position is until the end of SAFEMed Project (August 2022).; Annual renewed Contract is foreseen.

Interested qualified candidates have to submit their CVs and motivation letter. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health nonprofit organization, uses proven approaches developed over 40 years to help leaders, health managers, and communities in developing nations build stronger health systems for greater health impact. We work to save lives by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health. Since its founding in 1971, MSH has worked in over 150 countries with policy makers, health professionals, and health care consumers to improve the quality, availability, and affordability of health services. Working with governments, donors, non governmental organizations, the private sector, and health agencies, MSH responds to priority health problems such as HIV & AIDS; tuberculosis; malaria; maternal, newborn and child health; family planning and reproductive health; and chronic non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and lung and heart disease. Through strengthening capacity, investing in health systems innovation, building the evidence base, and advocating for sound public health policy, MSH is committed to making a lasting difference in global health.

Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or veteran status.Reports To

Senior Technical Advisor, Pharmaceutical Finance

 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS - 30 August 2019.

The interested candidates are invited to apply for this job online https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/10622/technical-advisor–pharmaceutical-services/job?mode=view or send their CV to [email protected] with the subject line “Senior Technical Advisor”.