MSH Job Vacancies in Uganda; Senior Technical Advisor - Rational Use of Medicine

Job Title:    Senior Technical Advisor - Rational Use of Medicine
Job Ref.:    13-7371
Job Location:    Kampala, Uganda
Employer:    Management Sciences for Health (MSH)
Center/Office:    CPM - General
Project/Program:Proposal
Grade:        Mid
Job Overview:
The Senior Technical Adviser (STA), Rational Use of Medicine for the Securing Ugandans’ Right to Essential Medicines and Health Supplies (SURE) Program reports to the Chief of Party and is overall responsible for activities related to rational use of medicine. The STA works with internal and external stakeholders to improve rational use of medicine especially in the public health sector through established rational use of medicine networks and committees and development of reference material used by the dispensing and prescribing staff. There will generally be focus on improving rational prescribing and dispensing at all levels of the Ugandan health care system from the Village Health Team to the Regional Referral Hospitals.

MSH seeks a Senior Technical Advisor, Rational Use of Medicine for an upcoming procurement to strengthen the Government of Uganda’s health system and to improve the availability and accessibility of essential medicines and health supplies (EMHS). The goals of this procurement are to 1) strengthen the policy and legal environment governing the production, procurement and distribution of pharmaceuticals in Uganda; 2) strengthen coordination among different stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector; 3) finance an adequate volume of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in both the public and private sectors; 4) strengthen the organizational structure of the pharmaceutical sector management; and 5) strengthen the delivery and storage of pharmaceutical and medical supplies at all levels.

Job Requirements:

• Master’s degree in a health area, such as pharmacy, medicine, or public health; medical doctor or clinical pharmacist preferred. Strong clinical skills are a requirement.
• At least 5 years work experience in pharmaceutical management and preferably with essential medicine concept and rational use of medicine.
• Comprehensive understanding of the Ugandan public health system and previous experience with USAID supported programs desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with internal colleagues and external stakeholders in developing innovative, creative and strategic solutions to achieve common goals is desirable.
• Study design and implementation skills are required.
• Training material development and training facilitation skills required. Experience with capacity-building of public sector staff is an added advantage.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing priorities and shifting deadlines is a must. So are strong administrative and communications skills.
• Management experience with strong team-building skills is an added advantage.
• Strong English skills including ability to write lucid technical reports and documents required.
• Demonstrated computer skills required including knowledge of Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point. Ability to use statistical packages such as Stata is an added advantage.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop, update and review rational use of medicine reference materials such as Uganda Clinical Guidelines, Essential Medicines and Health Supplies List for Uganda and Practical Guidelines for Dispensing.
• Identify linkages between irrational medicine use and practices through studies on diagnosis, prescribing, dispensing, and patient use. Develop and implement relevant strategies to improve rational use of medicine practices.
• Work with central level coordination bodies such as Uganda Network for Appropriate Medicine Use (UNAMU) and Uganda Medicine and Therapeutic Committee (UMTAC) to promote rational use of medicine in Uganda and further establish their respective responsibilities to reach their goals.
• Work with academic centers and health professions organizations to review and revise, as appropriate, training materials and expand training opportunities.
• Establish community involvement in prevention and treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases focusing both on medicine use and storage and disease awareness in the community.
• Work with other partners including UNFPA to ensure reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health commodities are used appropriately by the Village Health Teams.
• Any other duties that may be assigned as need arises.

This position is subject to award and project funding.

Deadline Date: 14/04/2014

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