PN 24 - Ongoing Recruitment – STTA Junior National - Health Facility Surveyors

Overview

PN 24 - Ongoing Recruitment – STTA Junior National - Health Facility Surveyors

Background and Problem Statement

Despite Pakistan’s progress in expanding public health infrastructure and advancing toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), persons with disabilities face barriers in accessing equitable healthcare. The 2023 Population and Housing Census reports 3.41 percent of Pakistan’s population — and 3.84 percent in Punjab — live with a disability. In alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), this technical assistance (TA) defines disability as long-term physical, sensory, intellectual, cognitive, or psychosocial impairments which, in interaction with environmental and attitudinal barriers, hinder full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

Health equity and UHC require inclusive and accessible health systems. Global evidence, including WHO’s Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities (2022), shows that persons with disabilities are more likely to experience delayed care, poor health outcomes, and financial hardship due to inaccessible services. Inclusive health systems are a rights-based obligation and a critical enabler of service quality, resilience, and population coverage.

Punjab hosts a significant share of Pakistan’s health infrastructure and disease burden. Inclusivity remains poorly integrated into infrastructure design, human resource development, and service protocols, and there is currently no systematic data on the accessibility of health facilities for persons with disabilities in the province.

At the policy level, Pakistan has committed to disability inclusion through :

• The UNCRPD (ratified 2011), which outlines the right to the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination.
• The National Policy for Persons with Disabilities (2002) , which calls for integrated health services and assistive technologies.
• The Punjab Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act (2022) mandating non-discriminatory, barrier-free access to all public and private facilities.

Operationalisation of these commitments within the health sector remains limited. The Punjab Health Sector Strategy (2019–2028) envisions equitable service delivery but does not fully address disability inclusion in facility design or service operations. Global frameworks such as the WHO Disability-Inclusive Health Services Toolkit and Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities : A Guide for Action emphasize addressing barriers across physical, informational, communicational, and attitudinal dimensions.

This TA will conduct a structured assessment of public health facilities across selected urban and rural districts in Punjab to evaluate inclusivity of health services across infrastructure, staff capacity, and service delivery processes, benchmarked against national legislation and international best practices. The assessment will generate actionable recommendations and a prioritised roadmap for institutionalising disability-inclusive practices across the provincial health system.

Strategic Approach

This TA was requested by the Special Secretary (Operations), H&PD, and will support UHC reforms by identifying systemic barriers that prevent equitable access to essential health services for persons with disabilities, contributing to SDG 3.8 and SDG 10.2. It aligns with Pakistan’s Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS) and national and provincial disability policies by translating commitments into actionable reforms. It also supports the implementation of UNCRPD, ratified by Pakistan in 2011, to ensure equal access to health and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities.

Crucially, this TA demonstrates the E4H demand-responsive model and how E4H mobilises timely technical support in response to provincial priorities while advancing broader systemic goals. It complements other E4H-supported efforts—such as Primary Healthcare (PHC) revamping, Clinic on Wheels (COWs), and engagement with Community Health Inspectors (CHIs)—by embedding disability inclusion within existing delivery platforms and operational frameworks and by strengthening the coherence and reach of E4H’s programming.

Objectives

The specific objectives of the TA are :

Domain and Scope

Description

Physical Accessibility : infrastructure, signage, ramps, restrooms

Attitudinal Barriers : staff attitudes, awareness, inclusion training

Use of sign language, visual aids, etc.

Awareness of entitlements, subsidies, or costs

Scope of Work and Methodology

The TA encompasses a comprehensive, multi-phase assessment of 30 public health facilities across six districts in Punjab (three urban and three rural), focusing on accessibility and inclusivity for persons with disabilities. The TA will use a mixed-methods approach—combining infrastructure assessments, staff and patient interviews, and policy reviews—to identify barriers to inclusive service delivery over a six-month period in five sequential phases :

Phase 1 : Planning and Inception

Phase 2 : Tool Development and Training

Phase 3 : Field Assessment and Data Collection

Phase 4 : Data Analysis and Interpretation

Phase 5 : Reporting and Dissemination

Health Facility Surveyors (Junior National)

LOE : 84 days (subject to change)

Period : Sep 2025 – Mar 2026

Role Requirements

Conduct field assessments of facilities, carry out staff interviews and observations, and ensure accurate and ethical data collection.

Technical Expertise

Bachelor’s degree in health sciences, social sciences, or equivalent. 5 years’ overall experience. Experience in field data collection, facility assessments, or health service delivery. Experience with accessibility assessments and direct community engagement preferred.

Core Competencies

Working with others; Communicating with others; Analysis and use of information.

Notes

Relevant experience and engagement : on-call, as-needed basis for scalable telemedicine approaches and other TA scopes. This section retains only contextual references and does not introduce new facts beyond the original content.

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