Terms of Reference for Family Medicine and Primary Health Care Expert

Background

The Healthy Life project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) in Moldova. A third and final project phase started on 1 October 2024 and will run until end June 2028. The main project partners are the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, in close collaboration with Local Governments and community actors. 

The vision of the “Healthy Life Project to Reduce the Burden of NCDs” is that Moldova achieves its 2030 UHC and health related SDG targets, and that its people enjoy greater health and wellbeing. Following this vision, the goal of the project is to contribute to the improvement of the health status of the Moldovan population, especially in rural areas through the reduction of the burden of NCDs.

Three outcomes are defined to achieve this goal:

• Outcome 1: National health institutions promote WHO “best buys” and work in an evidence-based and multisectoral manner to increase health literacy of the population
• Outcome 2: Quality integrated services, underpinned by regulations and education of service providers, improve the prevention and management of NCDs
• Outcome 3: People take responsibility for their own health, demand their rights, and hold decision-makers to account for reaching even the most vulnerable NCD patients

Given the major reforms currently ongoing in Moldova in territorial administration and public health, the Healthy Life project will continue to support the translation of national-level reforms to the local level and assist local actors in strengthening public health, primary care and health promotion at their level.

The project is coordinated by the Project Facilitation Unit (PFU) in Chisinau.

Main Tasks

Under the supervision of and in close collaboration with the Team Leader the Family Medicine and Primary Health Care (PHC) Expert will:

• Contribute to the development of the annual project plan in collaboration with the Team Leader and the other technical specialists
• Work in close collaboration with other experts and Project Facilitation Unit staff

Specifically, the Family Medicine and PHC Expert will:

• Coordinate work packages related to PHC strengthening, particularly
  • Facilitate the update of PHC protocols and other quality tools on NCDs
  • Set up a schedule of cascade trainings for PHC staff on three target diseases (hypertension, ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes) using educational materials developed in previous Project phases, inclusively using on-line technologies
  • Offer support for digitalization of the training package for family doctor team (e.g. PEN)
  • Contribute to the development and implementation of the unified concept for Family Doctor team, including community medical assistance
  • Reflect on bottlenecks in the NCDs patient pathway (referral systems/ vertical integration) and offer potential solutions for addressing them
  • Contribute to the implementation of tools for Quality management/ improvement in PHC, particularly by facilitating the training of family doctor teams, guiding the development, implementation and monitoring of quality improvement projects in PHC institutions in pilot communities
  • Participate in effective communication and collaboration across all the projects work areas (Outcomes)
  • Provide support for sustainable implementation of training programs, developed tools and models etc.

In addition, the Family Medicine and Primary Health Care Expert will:

• Document and share evidence and lessons learnt generated by the project
• Interact with and steer focal points at national, rayon and facility level
• Facilitate workshops as required to facilitate the capacity building of PHC personnel
• Develop research agenda based on action plan in collaboration with Team Leader
• Supervise local consultant inputs and quality assurance of deliverables in accordance with agreed Terms of Reference
• Ensures M&E activities relating to family health/PHC related outputs and outcomes
• Contribute to high quality reports in line with the agreed project reporting schedule
• Contribute to documentation for reporting and evaluating project activities
• Share evidence and lessons learnt in the area of Family Medicine / PHC generated by the project
• Assist the Team Leader with any other task as required

Person Specification

Qualifications

• University level education in Medicine, particularly in Family Medicine / PHC, Public health, Health Sciences, or equivalent;

• Postgraduate degree in public health is an advantage

Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in PHC, public health and/or clinical work (at PHC level)
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of the health system and the PHC services in Moldova, especially at rayon level
• Demonstrable experience of project reporting and development of project implementation plans
• Managerial work experience and skills / work in a mid-level or senior management position
• Demonstrable experience of organizing and delivering training
• Work experience with central and rayon authorities and the various institutions of the decentralized health system as well as local non-governmental organizations
• Work experience with Ministries and decentralized public authorities, participation in health-related national working groups
• Demonstrated ability to work in a changing, multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships and teambuilding, excellent inter-personal skills
• Proven experience working with professional associations in health, local partners and civil society institutions

Skills

• Able to produce high quality technical reports

• Ability to work in a changing, multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships
• Willingness to travel within the country
• Excellent presentation skills
• Fluency in English, Romanian, and Russian
• Proficient user level computer skills of Office and other software

Position specification

Position is based in Chisinau, Moldova. The involvment for 75% of time is accepted. Post holder reports to the Team Leader.

Please note that this is a one-year position with the possibility of extension.

Application process

Expressions of interest must include a motivation letter and an updated CV reflecting consultant's qualification and experience, etc. and must be submitted by email to the address info@viatasan.md by August 21, 2025, cob.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the interview.

The Consultant will be offered a consultancy contract which is to be negotiated depending on his/her competencies and experience.

For more details regarding the TOR and the project, please visit the project page: https://www.viatasan.md/  .