National Consultant - Health Care Financing, Philippines

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Qualifications

Purpose of consultancy

In line with the priorities of the Health Care Financing Strategy and the joint vision and action plan of the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth, WHO has been requested to provide technical support to accelerate health financing reforms and support the achievement of national UHC targets. Particular emphasis is being placed on strengthening financial protection mechanisms, reducing OOP expenditures, promoting data-informed health financing policies and decision-making, and supporting the transition from Global Fund financing through a clear pathway toward sustainable domestic financing of priority disease programmes, including through strengthened PhilHealth coverage and strategic purchasing arrangements. These efforts are intended to enhance the efficiency, equity, and sustainability of the health financing system while supporting the long-term financing of HIV, tuberculosis, and other priority health programmes. To support these efforts, WHO seeks the services of a national health financing expert who will provide technical assistance in policy analysis, health financing analytics, stakeholder engagement, evidence generation, and the development and implementation of priority health financing initiatives in collaboration with DOH, PhilHealth, and other key partners.

Background

The Philippines has made significant progress in advancing Universal Health Care (UHC) through the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act and the adoption of the Health Care Financing Strategy of the Philippines 2023–2028: Towards Universal Health Care. As the country's medium-term financing roadmap, the Strategy aims to reduce out-of-pocket (OOP) spending and strengthen financial protection through four strategic objectives: increasing public funding for health; strengthening financing of primary care; ensuring equitable financing for health services and affordable medicines; and promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in health. Despite these reforms, OOP spending continues to account for a substantial share of health expenditure, exposing many households to financial hardship and creating barriers to accessing needed health services. Sustained policy and implementation efforts are therefore required to accelerate progress toward national UHC goals and achieve the Strategy's targets for improved financial protection.

Deliverables

Output 1: Technical assistance for PhilHealth for the implementation of the DOH-PhilHealth Unified National Agenda (UNA)
Deliverable 1.1: Analysis and policy briefs on the PhilHealth benefit package optimization and performance-based payment metrics for the YAKAP package
Deliverable 1.2: Analaysis of the network contracting implementation at local government unit (LGU) level and documents to support the development of PhilHealth’s policies and guidelines for the network contracting and expansion of it including M&E
Deliverable 1.3: Policy briefs on options to streamline licensing and accreditation processes using risk-based approaches, particularly for primary care facilities, based on analysis of the current regulatory standards and gaps; review of existing guidelines and other Member States’ practices; and consultations with key stakeholders

Output 2: M&E framework for Special Health Fund operationalization, monitoring and evaluation
Deliverable 2.1: Policy briefs and technical documents on M&E framework for Special Health Fund implementation
Deliverable 2.2: Other analytical products to support data-informed policy development on Special Health Fund implementation

Output 3: Evaluation of financial protection policies and mechanisms
Deliverable 3.1: Technical assistance for monitoring of financial hardship and financial protection indicators by DOH, PhilHealth, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); and capacity building for DOH and PSA on monitoring financial hardship using the revised SDG 3.8.2 methodology in coordination with WHO Regional Office and WHO Headquarters
Deliverable 3.2: Documentation of the implementation of the DOH Universal Health Care (UHC) Fund for Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) in LGU Hospitals, including analysis of program implementation, fund utilization, patient coverage, challenges, and lessons learned to inform policy, budgeting, and legislative directions

Output 4: Other technical assignments
Deliverable 4.1: Technical briefs, analytical products, WHO position papers, presentations, and other internal and external documents on priority health financing topics, including health taxes and health financing reforms

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:  

Essential: University degree in health financing, health economics, health policy, health systems, economics or other relevant health-related disciplines
Desirable: Post-graduate degree in health financing, health economics or a related field

Experience

Essential: At least five years of relevant experience in health financing policy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, or health financing analytics at the national level or subnational level
Desirable: Work experience with government agencies, particularly the Department of Health, PhilHealth, or other health sector institutions; or work experience with the United Nations, international development agencies, or development partners. Experience in financial protection, strategic purchasing, or social health insurance

Skills/Knowledge:

• Strong technical expertise in health financing, including financial protection, health financing policy, and health financing reforms.
• Strong analytical and technical writing skills, including data collection, management, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of findings.
• Good knowledge of health systems strengthening, health service delivery, and Universal Health Care reforms in the Philippines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to develop policy briefs, technical reports, presentations, and other knowledge products for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, and civil society organizations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Languages and level required:

Essential: Expert knowledge of English and Filipino.

Location

On site: PhilHealth and World Health Organization, Country Office Philippines
Ground Floor, Building 3, Department of Health San Lazaro Compound
Rizal Avenue, Sta Cruz, Manila

Travel

The contract includes travel to various regions of the Philippines. Domestic travel to the regions, LGUs, CHDs, and partner-operated sites is anticipated.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

a. Remuneration: Band Level A, Php 250,000 (monthly)
b. Expected duration of contract: 11 months, October 2026 to September 2027

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.
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