Consultant for National Medicines Policy revision and Medicines Policy, NOD

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Qualifications

1. Background

Ghana’s National Medicines Policy (NMP) (2017) provides the strategic framework for ensuring equitable access to safe, effective and quality-assured medical products and health technologies. The current edition of the policy, developed in 2017, has guided national action across priority areas including the selection of essential medicines, financing and pricing, procurement and supply chain management, quality assurance, rational use of medicines, patient safety, research and development, and governance of the pharmaceutical sector.
Following a WHO-supported end-term evaluation of the policy, recommendations highlighted the need for revision to address implementation gaps, emerging challenges, advances in health technologies, local manufacturing initiatives, antimicrobial resistance, market dynamics, traditional medicine, and Universal Health Coverage priorities. WHO intends to engage a senior-level consultant to support the revision and development of a new evidence-based National Medicines Policy aligned with national priorities and international best practices, while coordinating closely with WHO and key national stakeholders.

Purpose of the Consultancy

To provide national technical support for the revision of the Ghana national medicines policy, 2017 informed by the recommendations of the WHO supported end term evaluation and in alignment with global best practice and international standards.

Objective of the Assignment

The overall objective is to develop a revised National Medicines Policy that is evidence-based, forward-looking, and aligned with national priorities and global standards. Specifically, the assignment aims to:
a. Adopt lessons from the implementation experience and lessons from the current National Medicines Policy leveraging the findings of the WHO-supported end term assessment of the policy.
b. Assess current and emerging pharmaceutical sector needs and priorities.
c. Facilitate broad stakeholder engagement to inform the revised policy.
d. Prepare a comprehensive, coherent, and implementable National Medicines Policy that supports progress toward Universal Health Coverage aligned to Ghana’s Free PHC reforms.
e. Develop a costed implementation plan, updated monitoring, evaluation and accountability framework for the revised policy.

Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities

A. Strategic Governance 
The consultant will:
• Review the existing National Medicines Policy (NMP), taking into account findings from the WHO-supported end-term assessment, and assess current gaps, opportunities, threats, and strengths.
• Examine the pharmaceutical governance environment, including regulatory systems, financing, research and development, supply chain management, local production, service delivery, and emerging public health priorities.
• Analyze and establish linkages between the NMP and broader health sector frameworks, including the Free Primary Healthcare Policy.
• Propose updated policy objectives, priority interventions, and implementation mechanisms.
• Draft the revised National Medicines Policy, including a costed implementation plan and monitoring and evaluation framework.

B. High-Level Coordination
The consultant will apply a structured and participatory approach that includes:
• An inception meeting with the Ministry of Health and key partners.
• Technical consultations with relevant technical experts, agencies, and professional bodies.
• National and regional stakeholder engagements.
• Validation meetings with stakeholders and the National Medicines Policy Steering Committee.
• Support for the facilitation of policy validation and finalization processes.

C. Strategic Policy Alignment
The consultant will:
• Review national documents, legal frameworks, global guidance, and sector reports to ensure alignment with national and international priorities.
• Analyze the relationship between the National Medicines Policy and broader health sector policies and strategies.
• Consolidate and synthesize evidence to inform the revision of the policy.
• Ensure that proposed policy objectives, interventions, and implementation mechanisms are aligned with current health sector priorities and emerging public health needs.

D. Stakeholder Engagement
The consultant will:
• Conduct stakeholder interviews, focus group discussions, and strategic technical meetings with high-level experts.
• Engage relevant government institutions, regulatory agencies, development partners, professional bodies, and other key stakeholders.
• Facilitate consultations to gather expert input and stakeholder perspectives on pharmaceutical sector priorities.
• Support consensus-building through stakeholder validation and review processes.

E. Strategic Support for effective Implementation
The consultant will:
• Develop a revised National Medicines Policy supported by a costed implementation plan.
• Incorporate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to guide implementation and track progress.
• Support validation and finalization processes to ensure stakeholder ownership and readiness for implementation.
• Provide strategic recommendations on implementation mechanisms, governance arrangements, and priority actions for the effective rollout of the revised policy.

2.    Deliverables

1. Desk reviews conducted of the existing NMP, end-term assessment findings, legal frameworks, sector reports and global guidance.
2. Linkages between the NMP and broader health sector frameworks analysed, including the Free Primary Healthcare Policy
3. Stakeholder interviews, validation meetings, focus group discussions and technical consultations conducted and feedback incorporated. 
4. Policy objectives, priority interventions and implementation mechanisms developed.
5. Revised National Medicines Policy including a costed implementation plan and monitoring, evaluation and accountability framework prepared and submitted to WHO and the MOH. 
6. End-of-assignment report summarizing technical support provided, key outcomes, lessons learnt and forward-looking recommendations submitted

3. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Identify the educational qualifications and expertise needed for the terms of reference outlined above.

Educational Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in Pharmacy, Public Health, Health Policy, Pharmaceutical Systems, or a related field.
Experience

• Essential: 
o Minimum 7 years of senior-level experience in health systems governance and pharmaceutical sector strengthening,
o Proven Experience working in Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector for at least 10 years.
• Desirable: Demonstrated ability to operate credibly and effectively at senior administrative levels

Skills/Knowledge

• Governance and stewardship expertise – strong understanding of health systems governance, institutional arrangements, accountability, and policy implementation.
• Health systems and UHC knowledge – strong understanding of health systems, national medicines policies, Universal Health Coverage, and health sector reforms. 
• Communication and negotiation skills – excellent facilitation, negotiation, diplomacy, and relationship-management skills. 
• Analytical and problem-solving skills – ability to synthesize complex issues and provide practical, actionable recommendations. 
• Policy and technical writing skills – ability to prepare high-quality policy briefs, reports, and presentations for senior decision-makers. 
• Demonstrated expertise in reviewing and developing national medicines policies, health policies, strategies and guidelines.

Languages and level required 

Excellent command of spoken and written English.

4. Technical Supervision

 Dr. Angela Ackon, Technical Officer, Integrated Service Delivery

5. Location 

On site: Accra and some designated regions within Ghana
Off site:  
On site for insurance purposes :__MOH, GHANA_(please indicate location/address). (This is where a duty travel is planned during the course of the consultancy but the consultant is being hired to work from home) Ashanti and Northern Regions,

6. Travel – travel required

A living expense is payable to on-site consultants – please refer to Information Note 08/2019 for details on eligibility.
1. Place of assignment, Accra, Ghana 
2. Travel within Ghana

7. Remuneration and budget (travel costs excluded)

Currency: GHS, NOD, Level 1 (GHS150,000.00)
Work schedule (if applicable) :Please refer to Information Note 09/2021 for guidance on rates for consultants.
Contract Type: National Consultant.
Payment Grade:  NOD Level 1 
Work Schedule: Approximately 90 working days to be executed over a four-month period.  

Additional Information 

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice. 
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.