PN 25 - Ongoing Recruitment – STTA Senior National - Health Systems Expert

Overview

Ongoing Recruitment – STTA Senior National - Health Systems Expert

TA : Scoping of Telemedicine Approaches in Pakistan & Model Design for Scalable Telemedicine Initiative for H&PD Punjab

Evidence for Health (E4H) is a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)-funded programme aimed at strengthening Pakistan's healthcare system, thereby decreasing the burden of illness and saving lives. E4H (2023–2027) provides technical assistance (TA) to Punjab, Federal, and KP governments, implemented by Palladium in partnership with Oxford Policy Management (OPM).

Through its flexible, embedded, and demand-driven model, E4H supports governments to achieve a resilient health system that is prepared for emergencies, responsive to evidence, and delivers equitable, quality, and efficient healthcare services. Specifically, E4H delivers TA across three outputs :

Output 1 : Strengthened integrated health security and preparedness.

Output 2 : Strengthened evidence-based decision-making for accountability and performance.

Output 3 : Improved implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Background and Problem Statement

Background

• The Government of Punjab is considering to adopt telemedicine approach(es) under itsUniversal Health Coverage (UHC)andPrimary Healthcare (PHC)reform agenda to improve access in underserved areas and address workforce shortages. This digital transformation supports national and global commitments to reduce health inequalities and ensure service continuity.
• The COVID-19 pandemic underscored telemedicine’s role in managing facility overloads, chronic diseases, and referrals.
• Aligned with the World Bank-supported National Health Support Programme (NHSP) DLI-3 on strengthening referrals in lagging districts, Evidence for Health Programme (E4H), will provide Technical Assistance (TA) to the Punjab Health and Population Department (H&PD), to review existing telemedicine models in various parts of Pakistan and recommend a model design aligned to provincial priorities of the Punjab Health and Population Department.
• Despite Government's efforts to ensure accessibility of Universal Health Coverage to the whole population in the Country, ensuring availability of quality Primary Health Care to remote and rural areas have been a challenge due to several reasons; mainly non-availability of qualified medical staff in the remote areas.
• Telemedicine approach has been adopted in some parts of the country at a smaller scale to Improve access to health care, however, large-scale integration of telemedicine into the public health system faces significant barriers due to limited skills among frontline healthcare providers, poor internet connectivity, unreliable power, and a lack of digital equipment in peripheral areas.

Objectives

The overall objectives of the TA will be :

Strategic Approach

Rationale :

Building on the Government of Punjab’s policy to outsource primary healthcare facilities, this TA will develop a strategic framework for a scalable telemedicine initiative, providing design recommendations and a robust monitoring system to strengthen digital referral pathways between primary and secondary care. Aligned with provincial and national health reform priorities, it will advance equitable, technology-enabled healthcare in Punjab. The TA will be a key step toward institutionalising evidence-based, gender-responsive, and patient-centred telemedicine, contributing to the goal of UHC.

Scope of Work and Methodology

A multidisciplinary team will conduct a nationwide scoping of various telemedicine approached and support H&PD in designing a scalable telemedicine framework aligned with provincial digital health reforms and national UHC targets. Grounded in evidence, systems thinking, and stakeholder engagement, the TA will be delivered in four structured phases :

Phase 1 : Inception and Situation Analysis

Phase 2 : Scoping & Situation Analysis

Phase 3 : Strategic Model and Monitoring Framework

Phase 4 : Finalisation and Dissemination

This participatory and phased approach will ensure that a comprehensive scoping of telemedicine in Pakistan is documented and a telemedicine framework is proposed considering Punjab’s evolving needs, that integrates smoothly with existing digital health systems, and supports long-term sustainability. Designated focal persons from H&PD and PITB will be actively engaged throughout the TA process to ensure alignment, relevance, and ownership.

Capacity Building / Sustainability and Transition Planning

A designated H&PD focal person, the HISDU lead, as a main point of contact, will be engaged throughout the process to ensure alignment, capacity-building, and a smooth handover. The framework will outline governance roles, integration with HMIS / EMR, and a phased transition to government ownership. Key findings and recommendations from the scoping review will be presented to the Special Secretary H&PD to secure endorsement and facilitate uptake.

Position : Health Systems Expert

Level : Senior National

LOE : 70 days

Period : Sep 2025 – Feb 2026

Role Requirements

Provide strategic direction for an integrated telemedicine model, ensuring alignment with UHC, PHC, and NHSP. Lead stakeholder engagement.

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