MEDICAL ACTIVITY MANAGER FOR PALLIATIVE CARE (M/F) 358 views0 applications

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical and humanitarian association founded in 1971 that provides assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflicts. They do so irrespective of race, religion, creed or political convictions. MSF is present in more than 60 countries worldwide.

To reinforce the MALAWI mission medical team, MSF- OCP is recruiting a :

MEDICAL ACTIVITY MANAGER FOR PALLIATIVE CARE (M/F)

Context

Malawi has the highest cervical cancer incidence (76/100,000) and mortality rate (50/100,000) in the world, representing an estimated 3,684 new cases and 2,314 deaths annually. Eastern and Southern Africa, including Malawi, also has one of the highest HIV prevalence, which contributes significantly to the cancer incidence, as HIV positive women are significantly more likely to develop cervical cancer when infected with HPV. Despite ongoing efforts to provide cancer screening and treatment services by the Ministry of Health and international organizations, the coverage remains low in comparison to the scale of the need in the country.

MSF, in response to this need, is implementing a unique comprehensive oncology project in Malawi. The project aims to encompass all components of gyneco-oncologic care from primary to tertiary prevention through the collaborative work of a multidisciplinary medical team embedded at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) and community health centers in the Blantyre and Chiradzulu districts in Malawi. The palliative care team is a vital component of the program, which will provide hospital-based palliative care in both inpatient and outpatient settings at QECH, in addition to home-based care for patients in the community.

To reinforce the MALAWI medical team, MSF-OCP is currently looking for a Medical Activity Manager for Palliative Care.

MSF is seeking a palliative care physician to lead this palliative care team in this rapidly developing oncology project in Malawi. The team consists of physician(s), clinical officer(s), nurse(s), and a psychologist. General responsibilities include defining, coordinating and monitoring the medical activities under his/her responsibility according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures in order to ensure the delivery of quality medical care for patients and their communities as well as improving the health conditions of the target population.

This is a unique position encompassing the following characteristics:

· Unique opportunities to provide care in diverse resource-limited clinical settings (primary responsibility will be focused on hospital-based care, but supervision of some home-based care in both urban and rural settings will be required) among a diverse case-mix referred from district hospitals that combines oncology with complex comorbidities and tropical medicine (i.e. Malaria, TB, and HIV)

· Substantial opportunity to perform bed-side and theoretical teaching to medical students, interns, residents, clinical officers, and nurses in a tertiary academic medical institution in Malawi

· Opportunities to develop strong leadership, management, and negotiation skills in global health while tackling clinical and public-health challenges within a multinational and multidisciplinary team

The position is an ideal opportunity for a physician with a special interested in providing palliative care to oncology patients in resource-limited contexts, offering clinical mentorship and capacity-building of future providers of palliative care in Malawi, developing context-adapted quality palliative care package, and engaging in challenging experiences in project management and leadership. As the project is still new in its implementation phase, much flexibility, patience, and diligence will be required. The Medical Activity Manager for Palliative Care must be willing to step out of his/her comfort zone, take initiative, and be a proactive member of the project launching team.

Accountabilities

Under the supervision of the Project Medical Referent, the Medical Activity Manager for Palliative Care will be required to perform the following main activities:

· Coordinating, assessing and supervising the proper functioning of the medical activities (Palliative care), according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures and through the correct compilation and analysis of medical data regarding patients’ health conditions.

· Participating in the definition of annual planning and budget for the project and in the follow up of the programs / project. Supervising and ensuring that medical activities objectives under his/her responsibility are achieved, reporting to the technical referent any problem arising in the service

· Checking all administrative procedures related to patients’ follow-up (individual card filling, registers, paper exit, discharge, transfers …) are carried out correctly and according to MSF procedures.

· Ensuring an efficient pharmacy management and monitoring the rational use of them. In coordination with the project biomedical service supervising the appropriate use of medical devices and anticipating future needs. Preparing the medical orders needed to implement the medical activities under his/her responsibility, and identifying and reporting to the line manager, non-medical support needs (material, infrastructure, transport, etc.)

· Coordinating and monitoring the daily working plan of the team under his/her responsibility (absent personnel, vacations, tracking leaves …). Participating in shifts and replaces a doctor, if necessary

· Planning and supervising, in close coordination with the HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training, performance evaluation, development and internal communication) of the staff under his/her responsibility in order to improve staff capabilities and to ensure both the sizing and the amount of knowledge required

· Participating in the monthly reports according to guidelines (i.e. SitReps, medical statistical reports, etc.).

Requirements

Education

· Completion of medical education and residency/clinical training in palliative care (essential) is essential

· Board certification in palliative care/ hospice or relevant medical field (internal medicine/ oncology) is preferred but not required

· Strong background in internal medicine with knowledge and/or training in HIV, TB, Malaria, and STIs would be an asset

Experience

· Essential working experience in internal medicine, palliative medicine, oncology, or other relevant field of medicine

· Clinical experience in a tertiary care hospital or oncology centers are desirable

· Experience in pelvic examinations for women, infectious diseases, and internal medicine are desirable, but not essential

· Experience in palliative care services in resource limited settings within MSF or other NGOs are desirable, but not essential

Languages

Fluency in English

Knowledge

Essential computer literacy (word, excel, internet)

Competencies

· Strategic vision

· Leadership

· People management and development

· Service orientation

· Teamwork and cooperation

· Flexibility

Terms of employment

• Based in Blantyre, MALAWI
• 1 year contract
• Salary according to the MSF salary grid and previous relevant experiences
• Starting date : February 2019