[e-drug] Vacancy: HAI Global Advocacy Officer (Pricing), Amsterdam

E-DRUG: Vacancy: HAI Global Advocacy Officer (Pricing), Amsterdam
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Vacancy: Health Action International (HAI) Global Advocacy Officer (Pricing)

Global Advocacy Officer (Pricing) - Terms of Reference

Fixed �term contract

General

The overall objective of the position is to coordinate the promotion of policies and programmes in clear and cohesive advocacy strategies that ensure medicine prices are not a barrier to access to essential medicines.
The Global Advocacy Officer will engage with experts on pricing policy recommendations and advocate for such policies at the international level.
At the national level the Global Advocacy Officer will support the engagement of civil society groups in national policy analysis and the implementation of advocacy strategies, in four pilot countries: Jordan, Kenya, Philippines and Kyrgyzstan.
Advocacy initiatives will be based on evidence from national medicine price and availability surveys undertaken using the WHO/HAI medicine price measurement tool, as well as other reliable and relevant evidence.

Specific Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities of the position include:
� Co-develop and implement an international advocacy campaign which includes drafting papers and other advocacy materials, host briefings, networking with other global initiatives, develop an advocacy toolkit and other resources, contribute to HAI�s website development and other communication tools
� Liaise with international and national policy experts in the formation of workable advocacy strategies to bring about appropriate policy outcomes
� Support national advocacy civil society efforts in Jordan, Philippines, Kenya and Kyrgyzstan through mobilisation, strategy development, planning, policy analysis, communication initiatives.
� Communicate advocacy activities and outcomes to pricing survey teams and civil society groups in other countries, project members, media and others.
� Draft funding proposals and donor reports
� Undertake other tasks/projects to assist HAI to meet its goals and objectives.

Organizational position
 The Global Advocacy Officer (Pricing) will work in close collaboration with, and under the supervision of, the Global Project Coordinator (Pricing) who co-ordinates the WHO/HAI Project on Medicine Prices and Availability
 He/she will also work in close collaboration with the project�s advocacy group.
 He/she will be line managed by the Global Project Coordinator (Pricing) and report to HAI�s Global Director.

Personal Attributes
 Proven expertise in advocacy, including the ability to communicate effectively and motivate others
 Experience of and understanding of policy processes, particularly in developing countries
 Both written and spoken English must be of a high standard; must be able to write effectively for a variety of audiences
 Understanding of and experience of working with media
 Knowledge of medicine pricing issues, particularly in developing countries, is an advantage
 Able to act in the interests of HAI and to respect HAI values and principles
 Ability to work successfully both on their own initiative and as a team member
 Ability to work co-operatively with project members, HAI staff and HAI members and demonstrate an understanding and experience of networking
 Possess an understanding of the general principles of effective management, such as prioritizing in times of high demand; being pragmatic and realistic; and being politically sensitive.
 Applicants must be legally able to work in the Netherlands.

Conditions of employment
This position is for 1 year period starting 1 October 2007
This position is for a 36 hour working week (full-time)
The duty station is in Amsterdam; regular and extensive international travel will be required

HAI is a non-profit, independent, global network of over 200 consumer groups, public interest NGOs, healthcare providers, academics and individuals in more than 70 countries, operating from four regional offices (Amsterdam, Colombo, Lima and Nairobi) and a global coordinating office (Amsterdam). HAI promotes increased access to essential medicines and their rational use, through research excellence and evidence-based advocacy, and works towards a world where all people, especially the poor and disadvantaged, are able to exercise their human right to health.

The contract is initially for 12 months after which it will be reviewed and will commence 1 October 2007. The remuneration package includes a competitive salary, pension scheme and additional benefits as appropriate.

Applicants should submit a current cv and covering letter indicating their advocacy experience, skills, competencies and suitability for the post, with reference to the terms of reference outlined below.

Applications should be received by 25 August 2007 either electronically to rose@haiweb.org, or by post to:

Tim Reed, Director
Health Action International Europe
Jacob van Lennepkade 334T
1053 NJ Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Dr Tim Reed, Director
Health Action International
Jacob van Lennepkade 334T
1053 NJ Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 683 3684
Fax: +31 20685 5002
Email: tim@haiweb.org
Website: http://www.haiweb.org

Health Action International (HAI) is an independent, global network working to increase access to essential medicines and improve their rational use through research excellence and evidence-based advocacy.

E-DRUG: Botswana expands ARV dispensing to Nurses
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Hello to you all.

Is your country hard-hit with the shortage of Pharmaceutical officers as well? Thought I will share the experience here in Botswana.

Initially Botswana Government provided ART services at the 32 hospital sites, and the dispensing was restricted to Pharmaceutical Officers. Access to ARVs proved to be a challenge because patients were still traveling long distances and the queues at the hospital were continuing to be long. This was a threat to the required adherence.

Two other phases were implemented to increase access and reduce long waiting times. These include: outsourcing of patients to private sector and rolling out the services to lower level facilities (clinics and health posts).

Availability of Pharmaceutical Officers is a major challenge in Botswana and recruiting from outside the country has also proved to be a challenge.

As a result, the Ministry of Health has expanded the dispensing of ARVs to the Nurses. For the Nurses to carry out this role effectively there was a need to develop training curriculum. So we have developed the curriculum and 85 Nurses have already been trained.

regards

Joyce Kgatlwane
Botswana
jkgatlwane@yahoo.com

[MSF is testing the same principle in Lesotho! WB]

E-DRUG: Botswana expands ARV dispensing to Nurses (2)
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Thanks so much Joyce for this important innovation, this is the way to go! Please, is it possible to share the developed curriculum and any others out there for in-depth technical discussion?

Best regards,

Deo
Deogratius Kimera
Director Drug Donation Programs
Axios International
Tel:+256-41-340806/7 (office)
Mobile:+256-772-744664
e-mail: Deo.Kimera@axiosint.com
kimeradeo@yahoo.com

E-DRUG: Botswana expands ARV dispensing to Nurses (3)
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dear E-druggers,

In the Northern Territory in Australia there is a list of drugs that can be prescribed and dispensed by Aboriginal Health Workers and Registered Nurses.

This covers all clinics on a list that accompanies the Gazettal Notice which lists the drugs. These can be viewed at
http://www.nt.gov.au/health/docs/poisons_control/s29_AHW_Exp_Mem_Oct_2003_distribution.pdf

Whilst pharmacists may feel they should be the only ones to dispense in remote areas this is not possible. The pharmacists task should be to upskill the nurses and health workers so they can make the right decisions. In deciding on a drug they must refer to the CARPA Manual for guidance in selecting a course of treatment.

Read about it at: http://www.carpa.org.au/manual_reference.htm

While the CARPA recommends a course of treatment there is no cross referencing of it (CARPA) with the Gazettal Notice listing the drugs that can be prescribed.
It is therefore necessary for the registered health worker or nurse to check CARPA for the drug then the Gazettal notice for whether they can supply.

Regards

Rollo Manning
rollom@iinet.net.au

E-DRUG: Botswana expands ARV dispensing to Nurses (4)
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Dear Joyce and colleagues,

Although I have not seen details of what aspects of the services have been
rolled-out to the nurses, this strategy seems to me quite sensible and
unavoidable for improved access.

However, in addition to basic safety, efficacy and quality, I assume that supply chain management issues, especially drug utilisation data collection and feedback to support effective central procurement, are core to the curriculum.

Regards,

Murtada M. Sesay
Technical Officer (Pharmaceuticals)
UNICEF Supply Division
Tel: +45 3527 3098
Mobile: +45 28 23 28 07
E-mail: msesay@unicef.org
Web: www.unicef.org/supply