Palladium

Consultant: Health Policy Analysis of Optional Paying Services

Project Overview and Role:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

Background and Rationale: In September 2022, the Government of Malawi approved a policy proposal to introduce public-private partnership (PPP)-based optional paying services in central hospitals and to extend the traditional optional paying services to district hospitals. These optional user fees for hospital amenities provide crucial additional revenue to facilities providing the services which is used to improve healthcare service delivery at the facility. With the dwindling of external financial support, Government through the Health Sector Strategic Plan Ⅲ and the associated Health Financing Strategy (HFS) has identified several options to increase domestic resource mobilization, including scaling up the provision of optional paying services.

Recently, several District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) have also expressed interest in the concept of optional paying services as a revenue mobilization tool. Although the optional paying services have been an important source of revenue for hospitals implementing the scheme, there are concerns that they may not be equitable or may be inconsistent with a stated policy of universal health coverage in Malawi. The Ministry of Health with support from the USAID funded PROPEL Health Project would like to engage the services of an independent consultant to conduct a health policy analysis of the optional paying services.

Objectives: The main objective of the consultancy is to conduct a health policy analysis of the optional paying services at national and district levels

The following are the specific objectives of the consultancy:

• Establish the status of optional paying services in terms of planning, financial management, monitoring, service delivery and human resources for health management;
• Assess whether the optional paying services are:
• Equitable with respect to access to care and financing
• Relevant with respect to generation of additional revenues in public health facilities, and improving overall health service delivery.
• Impactful (positive or negative; currently or potentially) with respect to achievement of universal health coverage in Malawi and improved service delivery at health facility level;
• Effective as tools of bridging the resource availability gap in service delivery points
• Acceptable to stakeholders (e.g., policy makers, health donors, healthcare providers, patient rights groups, patient representative groups)
• Assess the policy implications of differentials in pricing of services based on payment modality (out-of-pocket versus private medical insurance) and on nationality (national versus non-national)
• Conduct an options analysis involving optional paying services based on current design, phasing out optional paying services, and optional paying services based on public private partnerships
• Provide policy recommendations to the Ministry of Health on the optional paying services in general, and on improving the equity aspects of the optional paying services policy.

Expected Deliverables:

• An inception report that demonstrates a review of relevant literature, includes clear methods of data collection, analysis and reporting, and timelines;
• Report of consultations completed.
• A draft optional paying services policy analysis report.
• Final optional paying services policy analysis report containing policy recommendations.
• A slide deck on the health policy analysis.

Reporting:

The consultant shall report directly to the Deputy Director of Policy and Planning (Health Financing) for strategic guidance and the Country Director (PROPEL Health Malawi) for the contract management.

Duration of the assignment"

The maximum number of days for the assignment is 20 working days. The work must be completed within two months after signing of the contract.

Submission guidelines"

All interested parties are required to submit their applications including both technical and financial proposals, a copy of their most recent curriculum vitae. The financial proposal must be quoted in Malawi Kwacha. All applications should be submitted online no later than 17:00 Hours Malawi time on Friday August 25, 2023.

Required Qualifications:

Required qualifications and experience

• A minimum of a master’s degree in health economics, health policy, public health, business administration or related field;
• A minimum of 7 years of professional work experience in health policy, health planning, health financing and/or hospital management;
• Demonstrated experience in working with the Government, health development partners, civil society organizations and other stakeholders in the health policy or healthcare delivery programs
• Fluency in English

Company Overview:

About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.