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Terms of Reference

1. Purpose

Technical assistance to the Directorate of Central Health Establishments (CHE), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (Mo NHSR&C) in reviewing existing legislation and rules for developing integrated rules for all types of Point of Entries (PoE) including Airports, Seaports and Ground Crossings in compliance with IHR-2005.

The assignment entails review of the current port health rules and aviation health rules to identify gaps in comparison with the IHR requirements for amendment accordingly. The POE legislation review conducted by WHO in 2018 with engagement of national stakeholders, recommended segregating the commonalities, while indicating specific requirements for airport and port rules throughout the existing provisions, for integration into one document. Ground crossing could constitute a standalone chapter due to its unique feature.

The work will be awarded to a team of consultants/ firm with requisite education, expertise and experience necessary for undertaking the assignment. The consultant will work closely under the overall guidance and support of the Director CHE, Mo NHSR&C and WHO NPO IHR.

 

2. Background

The international travel and trade have increased significantly over the past decade. World’s scheduled air passenger traffic grew by 5.5% in 2013 and by 6.7% in 2016 (ICAO data), reflecting that airlines had to welcome some 3.6 billion passengers in 2016-17. This figure is about 800 million more than the 2.8 billion passengers traveling by airlines in 2011. The number of daily flights has touched the figure of 100.000 flights per day globally via 43,983 airports in the world (CIA World Fact Book). Similarly, there are about 53000 merchant ships in the oceans (Maritime Org.). In response to this enhanced traffic across the borders, which may potentiate emergence and re-emergence of international disease threats and other health risks, 194 countries across the globe have agreed to implement the International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR-2005). This binding instrument of international law entered into force on 15 June 2007.

Under the UN charter and being a WHO member state, Pakistan is mandated and under obligation to implement the Health Regulations of 1952 and the updated IHR-2005 under its National Legislative Framework. IHR-2005 is a legal Instrument designed to help in protecting all states from diseases and health risks of Public Health concern as declared by WHO. The purpose and scope of IHR-2005 (under Article-2, WHA-58.3 of UN General Assembly) is to ‘prevent, protect against control and provide public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffics and trade’.

IHR-2005, Annex 1(b) defines a Point of Entry as ‘a passage for international entry or exit of travellers, baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances, goods and postal parcels, as well as agencies and areas providing services to them on entry or exit’ requiring certain Core Capacities to combat cross border transmission of disease/ health risk. The IHR Core Capacities and Health Hazards apply to the PoEs as this is the key area for effective application of health measures to prevent the spread of disease. In this perspective, Pakistan being a signatory to IHR-2005 and as a State Party to this International Obligation is required to comply with the IHR-2005 requirements and attain the required IHR Core Capacities.

The existing rules and regulations for airports and seaports are very old and currently no rules exist for ground crossings as all these rules were developed under the framework of the IHR (1969). Hence, to carry out PoE functions effectively and efficiently in compliance with IHR-2005, there is a dire need to review the existing PoE legislation/rules and develop integrated rules for all types of PoE (Airports, Seaports and Ground Crossings) according to the requirements of IHR-2005.

In this regard, Ministry had requested WHO to provide technical assistance for reviewing the existing legislation and rules for developing integrated rules for all types of PoE (Airports, Seaports and Ground Crossings) in compliance with IHR-2005.

The assignment will be awarded to a team/firm of professionals with relevant qualification, expertise and strong Public Health and POE experience, with required proficiency and understanding of formulating and devising rules and regulations.

Overall Goal: The Directorate of Central Health Establishments (CHE), an attached department of the Ministry of NHRS&C is the main stakeholder in implementation of international obligations such as IHR-2005, GHSA and One Health, for ensuring an uninterrupted international trade and travel across the borders of Pakistan through maintaining optimal health security.

The overall goal therefore will be to see that ‘Pakistan stands in the global community as a country, safe and free from cross border transmission of communicable diseases and health hazards.

 

3. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)

Start date: 01/03/2021

End date: 30/04/2021

 

4. Work to be performed

Output 1: Review the existing PoE legislation and rules and other relevant documents

Deliverable 1.1: Conduct desk review of relevant documents including but not limited to existing PoE legislation and rules, WHO Scoping mission report, JEE assessment report, National Action Plan for Health Security, PoE PC-1, assessment reports prepared by the CHE, rules and legislation of other departments which are applicable in the POEs, etc.

Output 2: Organize Pre-Inception meeting & consultative meetings with federal and provincial stakeholders to discuss the relevant documents

Deliverable 2.1: Conduct Pre-inception meetings with Director Programs Mo NHSR&C, Do CHE and WHO NPO IHR

Deliverable 2.2: Submit an Inception Report

Deliverable 2.3: Meet with concerned stakeholders including the Law & Justice Division and federal and provincial levels

Output 3: Develop Integrated PoE rules & regulations for all types of PoE (Airports, Seaports and Ground Crossings) in compliance with IHR-2005

Deliverable 2.1: Prepare and draft integrated PoE rules in close coordination with the Do CHE

Deliverable 2.2: Share draft rules with the federal and provincial stakeholders to build consensus and coordinate the feedback

Deliverable 2.3: Incorporate and finalize the feedback; and submit the final version of the rules

 

5. Payment Schedule Against Deliverables

S No. Deliverable - Due Date - Payment (PKR)

1) Inception report with summarized desk review of POE legislation - 10 March 2021 - 10 %

2) Report of stakeholders’ consultation with key recommendations - 30 March 2021 - 25%

3) Final draft POE rules - 25 April 2021 - 35 %

4) End assignment report - 30 April 2021 - 30 %

 

6. Technical Supervision

The selected Consultant will work under the supervision of:

Responsible Officer: National Professional Officer (IHR, WHE)

Manager: Head of WHO Office, Pakistan

 

7. Specific requirements

Qualifications required

Master’s degree in Public Health, International Health or Law

 

Experience required

At least ten years of professional public health work experience at the national and international levels including relevant employment experience of PoE

 

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge

Familiarity and relevant experience in IHR particularly in legislation

Excellent writing capability, convening and facilitation skills

Language requirements

Professional level English Language required

 

8. Place of assignment

WHO Country Office – Islamabad Pakistan