Medical Officer (NCD)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) include cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, oral health, hearing and visual impairment, haematologic diseases and genetic disorders, disability, mental health, and violence and injuries. NCDs are currently responsible for the majority of all deaths in low and middle income countries, and WHO projections indicate that the burden of diseases from NCDs can be expected to increase rapidly in the near future. NCDs impose a significant economic burden, not just on patients but on households, communities, employers, health systems, and governments. The direct morbidity and mortality burden of NCDs on patients and their families is reflected in diminished productivity and lower returns to investments in human capital. When aggregated across the economy, these household costs have an important negative impact on the size and productivity of the labour force and on national income.

Recognizing the high burden of NCDs, WHO and the Royal Thai Government (RTG) have included NCDs as a priority area for the 2012-2016 Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS). The CCS Strategy for NCDs has three main goals:

1. To promote collaboration, partnership and integration among various sectors to tackle NCDs.

2. To strengthen national policies, plan and interventions for prevention and control of main NCDs.

3. To strengthen monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes to prevent and control NCDs.

The Medical Officer will also strengthen WHO capacity to provide technical support on specific issues regarding road safety and ageing populations (both of which are also separate WHO / RTG CCS priority programmes), including the need to re-orient services for managing chronic diseases in the elderly.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform the following duties and functions:

1. Provide technical leadership and guidance in the improvement of national NCD policies and strategies, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, training, epidemiological surveys and research;

2. Provide close supervision and periodic review of the NCD priority programme within the CCS and provide the necessary technical advice, and recommendations to support effective and efficient implementation of NCD-related activities;

3. Provide normative guidance in the development of appropriate and sustainable interventions to help achieve the national goals and targets for prevention and control of NCDs, including at primary health care level;

4. Coordinate, engage and advocate for change in sectors and with stakeholders beyond health (e.g. education, transportation, environment, industry); coordinate activities with overlapping focus areas (e.g. the Tobacco-Free Initiative, Alcohol, Nutrition, Health Promotion); and integrate intervention strategies to achieve a number of health outcomes (e.g. interventions in schools to prevent childhood obesity and oral health);

5. Strengthen mechanisms to capture NCD data required for national and global indicators and targets;

6. Provide policy advice to the MoPH in developing strategies and activities to address the NCD burden in high-risk populations;

7. Provide technical guidance to address the wider social determinants of health as they apply to NCDs;

8. Oversee other NCD-related areas including ageing, road safety, violence and injury; and

9. Undertake other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in medicine with postgraduate degree in public health or related field.
Desirable: Training in programme development and management for the elderly populations, especially with regard to NCDs.

Experience

Essential: At least ten years' of experience in public health, including experience with integrated NCD prevention and control and including considerable experience obtained in an international context.
Desirable: Familiarity with the UN system, in particular with WHO is desirable. Proven track record on managing Environmental Health aspects of NCDs.

Skills

• Good knowledge and experience in Non-Communicable Diseases with understanding of the wider Environmental Health issues and their impact on NCD control.
• Skills in programme planning / development, training, implementation, monitoring / evaluation of interventions, and in development of locally-adapted tools and instruments.
• Good communication skills with proven aptitude for effective verbal and written communication.
• Ability to interact with health professionals at various levels.
• Ability to think strategically and work under tight deadlines on a results-oriented basis; Ability to develop innovative approaches and solutions; Ability to demonstrate effective interpersonal skills by working harmoniously as a member of a team, adapting to diverse educational, socio-political and cultural backgrounds and maintaining a high standard of personal conduct.

WHO Competencies

1. Communication
2. Teamwork
3. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
4. Producing results
5. Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 89,837 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 3534 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an 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.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.