PAHO Consultant - IPC – Diagnóstico y tratamiento de VPH, cáncer, e ITS

Organizational Context

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Job Purpose

The Regional Revolving Funds of PAHO are a strategic mechanism to accelerate the Elimination Initiative by sustainably improving access to and availability of essential diagnostics and treatments for HPV, syphilis, viral hepatitis, and STIs. By consolidating regional demand, establishing long-term agreements with suppliers, and ensuring international quality standards, the Funds facilitate access to priority vaccines, diagnostic tests, medicines, and technologies, reducing technical, financial, and supply barriers. This approach enables countries to strengthen screening, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment of these diseases, ensure continuity of care throughout the life course, and advance collaboratively towards regional elimination and control goals, in line with universal health coverage in the Region of the Americas.

Responsibilities

Support estimation of needs and planning for the procurement of medicines, supplies, and equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer. Map countries in the Americas regarding diagnostic platforms for HPV, available equipment, procurement methods, key stakeholders, and prices for HPV tests and cervical cancer treatment supplies. Promote the availability of technologies for the described diseases in the Americas. Support the consolidation of demand for medicines, strategic supplies, and equipment. Monitor demand, requisitions, and purchase order management processes, submitting monthly reports. Provide information on the Strategic Fund's portfolio for cervical cancer and related conditions. Organize technical sheets with specifications for devices in the HPV package. Assist in reviewing and organizing the catalog of laboratory supplies, equipment, and medical devices. Prepare and submit reports to UNITAID on progress, particularly regarding medicines, supplies, and equipment for cervical cancer management. Hold weekly virtual meetings with the regional team to review progress.

Work Experience

Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in areas related to public health, access to health technologies, management of medical devices and diagnostics, health procurement, or international technical cooperation. Proven experience working with ministries of health, national reference laboratories, public health programs, or international organizations, preferably in Latin America and the Caribbean. Demonstrated experience in conducting situational analyses, market studies, regional mapping, or comparative country analyses related to screening and diagnostic methodologies, as well as models for access, availability, and use of diagnostic tests. Ability to identify gaps, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities, considering technical, regulatory, programmatic, and market aspects. Experience in planning, programming, and monitoring the procurement of diagnostic tests, medical devices, and/or laboratory supplies. Knowledge of medical device classification, regulatory categories, and technical specifications, particularly for HPV diagnostics and related conditions. Ability to align catalogs with programmatic needs, technical criteria, and procurement processes. Experience providing technical assistance to countries through the development of technical notes, comparative matrices, and fact sheets, as well as technical guidance to national teams.

Skills

Situational analysis, market studies, regional mapping, comparative country analyses, diagnostic methodologies, health technology access, procurement planning and monitoring, medical device classification, regulatory knowledge, technical specifications, catalog alignment, technical assistance, report writing.

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