Clinical Care Advisers

Location: Vientiane

Deadline for submitting the application: 23/04/2025 

Start date: 01/07/2025 

Contract type: Limited 

Contract term (months): 30,00 

1. Background

The Lao and Luxembourg governments decided, for the fifth Lao-Luxembourg Indicative Cooperation Programme (ICP V), to maintain and deepen collaboration nationally, but with emphasis on the provinces of Bokeo, Bolikhamxay, Khammouane and Vientiane, through following four sectoral programmes (2023-2027) with a total budget of approximately 116.5 MEUR, as follows:

1. Health and Nutrition (H&N) with a budget of ca. 35,8 MEUR;
2. Local Development (LD) with a budget of ca. 34 MEUR (including Swiss co-financing);
3. Skills for Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry (STAF) with a budget of ca. 25 MEUR (including Swiss and European Union co-financing);
4. Rule of Law, Access to Justice and Good Governance (ROLAG) with a budget of 11,5 MEUR.

Both governments also agreed to seek strong linkages between the four programmes to optimise synergy and impact. The earmarked interventions are interconnected through a common human capital development approach towards sustainable results. This is the foundation of ICP V, and is key to contributing to the eradication of extreme poverty and strengthened socio-economic inclusion in the target areas.

The Health and Nutrition programme is the continuation and further expansion of two previous healthcare support initiatives named Lao-Luxembourg health sector support programme (LL-HSSP). The programme will work in close cooperation with the United Nations Joint Programme (UNJP), especially at the provincial level in the fields of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and nutrition.

The duration of the sectoral programme is set at five years comprising a total budget of 46.3 MEUR, including 4.5 MEUR for Aide au Développement de la Santé (ADS), a Luxembourg non-governmental organization (NGO) working for more than 20 years in Lao PDR in the field of cardiology.

The programme will predominantly contribute to the long term change objective that Lao people have access to an essential health service package (including RMNCAH and nutrition services) of adequate quality and affordable to all, leaving no one behind, whereby (i) Lao people do indeed have “access” to those health services, (ii) those health services are affordable to all, and (iii) those health services provided to Lao people are of good quality.

The programme will uphold a geographic focus on all districts in the three provinces of Bolikhamxay, Khammouane and Vientiane Province but aims to deepen interventions to enhance overall effectiveness and efficiency. Programme expansion to Bokeo province will interface with a parallel Luxembourg-financed Local Development programme as well as the UNJP.

For good quality health service to be provided to Lao people, eight broad areas of intervention are described as part of the ToC pathway, each contributing to Human Resources Capital Development (HRCD).

Overall, the ICP V sectoral programme aims at creating favourable conditions for institutional and technical sustainability with (i) the accent put on HRCD, training and capacity development activities, (ii) an emphasis on embedding supported activities into the national management structures and (iii) the institutionalisation and expansion of the Joint Participatory Mechanism i.e. a “multiplication” co-financing apparatus between Laos and Luxembourg to finance health care operations and out-of-pocket expenses at grassroots level in the participating provinces.

Regarding the national level, the Health and Nutrition programme will closely work together with other bilateral and multilateral actors in the sector to ensure Luxembourg interventions are harmonized, including in policy dialogue, practical collaboration and coordination.

2. OBJECTIVES

The Clinical Care Adviser will play a key role in supervising and supporting the clinical care and quality improvement processes within the provincial hospital. The incumbent will provide technical guidance, facilitate capacity building for local doctors, and ensure adherence to best practices and international quality standards.

In performing his/her duty, the Clinical Care Adviser will:

• Provide expert advice and supervise the implementation of the quality of healthcare activities for Result 1.3 - Good quality health services are provided to Lao citizens;
• Work closely with advisers from the central level for the implementation of clinical activities at provincial level;
• Collaborate with counterparts Provincial Health Departments and provincial hospital on matters related to quality of healthcare.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES

The main duties are:

• Supervision and oversight;
• Quality improvement;
• Capacity building;
• Advisory;
• Monitoring and reporting.

The following tasks shall be performed:

• Monitor and oversee clinical care processes provided by local doctors, ensuring alignment with national and international standards and evidence-based practices;
• Conduct regular hospital walks, ward rounds and case discussions to assess the quality of patient care;
• Lead the development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives within the hospital;
• Support the establishment of clinical guidelines, protocols, and patient safety measures;
• Facilitate hospital accreditation processes where applicable;
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and training to local medical staff to strengthen their clinical and professional skills;
• Organize and deliver on the job workshops or training sessions on topics such as infection prevention, clinical audits, and patient-centred care;
• Advise hospital leadership and local authorities on strategies to improve clinical care delivery and resource utilization;
• Work as a team with LAO/035 Nurse and Midwife Advisers at provincial hospital level to implement activities;
• Collaborate with the QHCA in the process of development and implementation of tools to monitor clinical care quality indicators and track progress over time;
• Have regular feedback and provision of expertise with the Hospital Director and relevant stakeholders, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations.

4. PROFILE

• Medical degree with specialization in [e.g., Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Surgery, OB/GYN, NCD, Pediatrics, etc.];
• Minimum of 15 years of clinical experience, including at least 5 years in a hospital/health facility setting with quality improvement systems;
• Experience working in low-resource or developing country contexts is highly desirable;
• Demonstrated expertise in implementing quality improvement initiatives in healthcare settings;
• Strong mentorship, communication, and teamwork skills;
• Proficiency in English;
• Knowledge of Lao or Thai language is an advantage.

A position is open for each of the four Provincial Hospitals (Vientiane, Bolikhamxay, Bokeo, Khammouane). Please indicate in your motivation letter where you would like to be assigned.

We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability.