TAKING SCIENCE TO IMPACT Consultancy and Project Implementation for Global Health
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At a Glance Key Figures Services at Swiss TPH Consultancy and Project Implementation Our Expertise
Text and edits: Danielle Powell
Cover picture: Olivier Brandenberg
Contributions: Leah Bohle, Xavier Bosch-Capblanch, Valérie Busson, Patrick Hanlon, Caitlin Jarrett, Ingrid Mason, Odile Pham-Tan, Helen Prytherch, Martin Raab, Florence Secula, Siddharth Srivastava, Peter Steinmann, Karin Wiedenmayer, Kaspar Wyss, Manfred Zahorka
Design: Neeser & Müller GmbH
Pictures: Olivier Brandenberg, François Crabbé, Christian Flierl, Matthis Kleeb, Danielle Powell, Thomas Schuppisser, Martin van der Belen
Printing: Gremper AG Copyright: Swiss TPH 2020 Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute Socinstrasse 57, Postfach CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland +41 (0)61 284 81 11 www.swisstph.ch
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Improving Health Systems Worldwide The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) is a world-leading institute in global health with a particular focus on low- and middleincome countries. Associated with the University of Basel, Swiss TPH combines research, education and services at the local, national and international level. 850 people from 80 nations work at Swiss TPH focusing on infectious and non-communicable diseases, environment, society and health as well as health systems and interventions.
Introduction
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At a Glance Swiss TPH translates research into action, helps strengthen health systems and shapes health policy to generate measurable outputs and create lasting impact for individuals and communities worldwide. Research, education and services By uniquely combining research, education and services, we aim to improve the health and well-being of people through a better understanding of disease and health systems and by acting on this knowledge. Taking science to impact Our translational approach, from innovation and validation to application, enables us to bring novel diagnostics, drugs and vaccines directly to people, communities, policy and decision makers. Throughout, we pursue a spirit of partnership and strive for sustainable impact in over 100 countries. Broad expertise About 850 employees and students work at Swiss TPH, focusing on infectious and noncommunicable diseases, environment, society and health as well as health systems and interventions. Our expertise spans from the bench to the field, from basic to operational, from molecular to spatial, and from genes to health systems.
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At a Glance
Selected funding partners and clients →→ Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
→→ Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation
→→ Eckenstein-Geigy Foundation
→→ Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
→→ European Commission
→→ Swiss Federal Office for the Environment
→→ Fondation Botnar
→→ Swiss Federal Office of Public Health
→→ Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
→→ Swiss National Science Foundation
→→ Global Fund
→→ UN Agencies (e.g. UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO)
→→ International Committee of the Red Cross
→→ Unitaid
→→ Pharmaceutical Companies
For the full list, please visit: www.swisstph.ch/partners
→→ R. Geigy Foundation
Swiss TPH funding 2014 – 2018 100 000 000 80 000 000 60 000 000 40 000 000 20 000 000 0 2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Total funds in CHF Competitively acquired funds in CHF Core funding in CHF At a Glance
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Key Figures
850 Employees at Swiss TPH
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Employees based abroad in 40 countries
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Countries in which we work
> 10 projects > 5 projects > 1 project
Swiss TPH offices
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Key Figures
610 Employees based in Basel
Swiss TPH is committed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), placing an emphasis on SDG 3 “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) throughout all of our research projects and service mandates. Key Figures
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Services at Swiss TPH Swiss TPH offers a diversity of services in global health, ranging from consultancy and project implementation and medical consultations, to clinical trials, diagnostic and medical services.
Vaccinations and medical consultations
Consultancy and project implementation Swiss TPH offers state-ofthe-art consultancy and project implementation services in the area of global health.
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Services at Swiss TPH
15,000Â pre-travel medical consultations, 1,500Â post-travel consultations and 30,000 phone calls annually - our travel clinic is a national centre of competence for travel and tropical medicine. Clinical trials and studies Swiss TPH conducts clinical trials for new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines to improve access, quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare in low-income settings. Diagnostic services Our diagnostic centre is specialised in diagnosing infectious tropical diseases. The laboratory has an internationally recognised expertise in parasitic infections.
Consultancy and Project Implementation Swiss TPH provides policy, strategic and operational advice as well as project design and management in the area of public and global health. Made up of multi-disciplinary teams in Switzerland and in over 40Â countries, Swiss TPH builds on its strong synergies across research, education and services to improve the health and well-being of communities worldwide.
Consultancy and Project Implementation
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Our core competencies in consultancy and project implementation include: Project Design and Implementation
Implementation Research
In collaboration with our partners, Swiss TPH designs, plans, implements, monitors and evaluates projects and programmes that address global health issues, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. By applying the latest project management techniques, Swiss TPH ensures interventions are designed and implemented effectively and efficiently as per beneficiaries’ needs and partners’ requirements.
Swiss TPH offers services related to implementation research to identify and address practical problems faced by health systems worldwide. Our expertise is in the design and realisation of studies and surveys, including qualitative and quantitative methods, traditional and electronic data collection and biostatistics. Swiss TPH uses its competency in implementation research to reveal evidence-based solutions that improve health systems’ performance, ultimately resulting in expanded access to services and better health outcomes.
Consultancy and Policy Advice Swiss TPH provides strategic advice to local, national and international health authorities and develops tailor-made solutions for a variety of clients including UN agencies, bilateral or multilateral development agencies, NGOs, foundations and the private sector. By applying evidence-based approaches and solutions, Swiss TPH enhances the performance of health systems and increases access to health services for vulnerable populations. Organisational Assessments Swiss TPH conducts organisational capacity assessments for beneficiaries of health sector programmes. Swiss TPH has expertise in evaluating and advising in various stages of organisational development through processes such as monitoring and evaluation, procurement and supply management, financial administration, leadership and governance, as well as risk assessments.
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Economic Evaluations Economic evaluations provide a structured, transparent approach to assist decision-makers and ensure that limited resources for health are allocated effectively. Our expertise and knowledge encompasses a broad range of economic evaluation approaches including cost analyses, cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit and budget impact analyses. Swiss TPH also assesses value for money for clients to determine the best health financing options available for a given programme or setting.
Consultancy and Project Implementation
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Our Expertise Swiss TPH offers thematic expertise in the area of global health. From health financing and supply chain management to health workforce development and expertise in neglected tropical diseases, Swiss TPH is a trusted partner for local, national and international funding bodies and clients.
Our Expertise
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Building Resilient Health Systems Swiss TPH works across service delivery, health workforce development, information systems, medicines, health financing and leadership and governance to build resilient health systems. Informed by the latest evidence, Swiss TPH designs interventions at all levels of the health system to improve health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations. Swiss TPH facilitates policy dialogue and engages citizens, including in health communications and behavioural change strategies. Health Workforce Development
Primary Healthcare Strengthening
Swiss TPH supports the Health Workforce 2030 Agenda in human resources planning, quantifying health worker migration and strengthening district health management. Swiss TPH conducts training needs assessments, develops locally adapted training courses at under and postgraduate levels, strengthens clinical skills development and shapes medical education reforms. Swiss TPH has extensive knowledge on health workforce issues and the complex intersection between several involved line-ministries, faith-based organisations and the private sector.
Strong primary health care (PHC) can address up to 90% of a population’s health needs by providing access and high-quality services. Health systems with resilient primary care provide greater financial protection and access to vulnerable groups, supporting the achievement of UHC and the SDGs. Despite the promise of PHC, barriers such as cost, distance and poor quality services continue to impede access to health services. Swiss TPH works to strengthen PHC through capacity building and patient-centred quality of care as well as by engaging communities.
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Our Expertise
Health Financing As passionate advocates of the drive towards UHC, Swiss TPH provides services to develop and implement health financing strategies and assess the economic viability of health system interventions. Swiss TPH undertakes situational analysis and assessment of the design, sales, servicing and sustainability of insurance schemes. Our work includes initiating and guiding policy level discussions, performance monitoring, implementing organisational structures and developing mechanisms to include vulnerable populations. From a research perspective, Swiss TPH focuses on assessing the impact, coverage and cost-effectiveness of new health financing schemes.
SWISS-TAJIK COOPERATION: MEDICAL EDUCATION REFORM The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation’s Medical Education Reform Project (MEP), which was implemented by Swiss TPH, strengthened the quality of primary healthcare in Tajikistan through the reform of undergraduate and postgraduate training and the introduction of new forms of continuous professional development, which built a robust workforce of family doctors and nurses. The MEP acts as a model for other countries such as Albania’s Health for All Project, and Ukraine’s Medical Education Development Project that are also working towards achieving UHC through medical education.
Nursing students in Dushanbe, Tajikistan take part in the undergraduate training programme as part of the Medical Education Reform Project Our Expertise
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Quality Management in Healthcare Quality management in healthcare includes all mechanisms and interventions that improve how healthcare services are delivered to patients and populations. It is an integral part of clinical care, public health and health services management. Swiss TPH embeds quality of care principles and practices in services and programmes in the countries it works and strives to bring these principles into teaching courses. Health Information The scope and volume of clinical and health systems related data is increasing significantly. The way medical data and provision information is managed directly impacts the quality of care and the efficiency of health systems. Our expertise ranges from the setup of information systems to the assessment of data protection and information security needs. A particular focus is placed on the conceptualisation and implementation of data systems for managerial and epidemiological purposes that add value to high-level decision making.
the Global Fund since 2004 and currently oversees, verifies and reports on the performance-based funding of grants in 11 countries throughout Africa and the Middle East. As part of its collaboration with Unitaid, Swiss TPH has performed several project evaluations related to HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. By improving the performance quality and functioning of health services and programmes, Swiss TPH contributes to the development of accessible, equitable and efficient health systems. Human-Centred Design in Public Health
Programme Performance Performance assessment and monitoring provides an important basis for analysing the outcome and impact of programmes and projects within health systems. Swiss TPH has acted as a Local Fund Agent (LFA) for 18
Our Expertise
Human-centred design (HCD) is an approach used to develop solutions to address specific user needs. It is an iterative process comprised of five main stages: learning about the end user, identifying the key issues, brainstorming and creating solutions, building the
solutions and testing the ideas. At every stage, end users are engaged and their needs reflected upon. HCD has the potential to bring a creative problem solving approach to complement current methods in global health, particularly in health systems research, where context is complex and collaborative ways of working essential. With the PHISICC project, Swiss TPH supports HCD research in primary care in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Mozambique.
PAPER-BASED HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN COMPREHENSIVE CARE (PHISICC) There is increasing interest in the application of HCD to address global health challenges but as a novel approach, there is limited understanding of what it is, how to use it, and its value for delivering impact. PHISICC is a large multi-country project that applies HCD to formulate a comprehensive series of research activities: formative research, intervention design and evaluation. The health information system is rigorously tested using randomized-controlled trials. PHISICC has created an innovative space to test HCD methods for diverse purposes, including continuous improvement.
A healthcare worker compiles health information as part of the PHISICC project Our Expertise
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Health Commodities Management A low quality of healthcare is the consequence of poorly managed medicines and medical supplies. Significant resources are allocated to health commodities in low- and middle-income countries, yet many supply chains are managed ad-hoc and inefficiencies are widespread. Swiss TPH integrates the management of health commodities into health systems by drawing from vast field experience in human resources, quality assurance and fostering accountability. Supply Chain
Procurement
Swiss TPH is involved in supply chain activities such as programme strengthening and management tools analysis. Swiss TPH has expertise in supply chain design, health worker training, stock and distribution and the Logistic Management Information System (LMIS) and works in close collaboration with national experts. As an LFA, Swiss TPH provides expertise in areas such as capacity assessments, tender reviews, stock verification and health products forecasting.
As one of the components of the supply chain, Swiss TPH provides expertise in the procurement of health commodities and supports governments in addressing weak procurement processes. This includes pooled procurement and prime vendors to complement national supply chain systems. Our expertise ranges from the solicitation of potential suppliers and evaluation of offers to the awarding of contracts, contract management and beyond. To ensure “best value for money�, our experts work in compliance with national and international laws with a focus on transparency.
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Our Expertise
JAZIA PRIME VENDOR SYSTEM To supplement medicines and supplies that are out of stock at the Medical Stores Department in Tanzania, Swiss TPH developed the Jazia Prime Vendor System (Jazia PVS). Jazia PVS is a unique public-private partnership with the objective to procure complementary health commodities to improve the availability of medicines in Tanzania. Swiss TPH and regional authorities co-created the concept and piloted the model in the Dodoma region. It has now been rolled-out in all 26 regions of Tanzania.
A woman waits to receive her child’s medicine at a health facility in Ifakara, Tanzania Our Expertise
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Promoting Health through the Life Course By taking a holistic view of people’s health and well-being at all ages, Swiss TPH promotes health through the life course with a multi-sectoral approach in line with the SDGs. With a focus on health systems designed for people and ensuring that projects are gender sensitive, Swiss TPH addresses the areas of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition as well as the needs of the elderly. Women, Children and Adolescent Health
Non-Communicable Diseases
Swiss TPH has a track record of successful implementation of projects related to maternal and newborn health. In recent years, Swiss TPH has increasingly engaged in research, technical support and policy advice related to child and adolescent health. Swiss TPH contributes to global efforts to enhance the integrated management of childhood illnesses through eHealth solutions and prevent childhood stunting through community-based interventions. In addition, Swiss TPH conducts evaluations of youth-led and youth-serving programmes as well as supports the implementation of youth-friendly health services and sexuality education.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are becoming highly prevalent worldwide and increasingly contribute to premature morbidity and mortality. Ageing populations, behavioural aspects, environmental risks and other complex mechanisms are contributing factors. Swiss TPH is involved in interventions to address NCDs such as strengthening patient knowledge, integrating community services and supporting national institutions with policy-making throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia. By working closely with national and local governments and local WHO offices, our aim is to improve the quality of care for NCDs in low- and middle-income countries.
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Our Expertise
Neglected Tropical Diseases
JEUNES3
Swiss TPH has unique expertise in neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by combining research, education and services. Our work covers helminth and protozoan drug development, the validation of approaches and tools, and capacity building with a focus on soil-transmitted and food-borne helminths, schistosomes, trypanosomes and mycobacterial NTDs. Swiss TPH works closely with donors and national control programmes and offers services such as policy advice and technical assistance in project implementation including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and outcome evaluation. Swiss TPH is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology and Control of Helminth Infections.
Since 2016, JeuneS3 (Santé, Sexualité, Sécurité) supports the implementation of the national life skills education programme in South and North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. By working with local partners, the programme helps establish a national curricula to deliver sexuality education in 90 schools and in 40 out-of-school settings. Swiss TPH supports JeuneS3 through curriculum development, the creation of a pool of specialised trainers and trained teachers, school infrastructure improvement, providing teaching materials, quality controls and research as well as monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
Polydor Muzuri, JeuneS3 peer educator at the Youth Center of Kumuvu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Our Expertise
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Digital Health Enormous opportunities and challenges come with the digital innovations that are transforming medical service provision and health services management. Our expertise is in identifying and implementing digital health solutions, including health information applications for improved health services, health financing, computerised epidemiological surveillance systems, health management information systems as well as digital solutions for training health professionals. Swiss TPH is also a WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Technology and eHealth. Insurance Management Systems
Clinical Decision Support Systems
Our expertise includes needs assessments, the design of scheme processes and accompanying software specifications, architecture design as well as capacity development and implementation support. An example of our work is the Insurance Management Information System (IMIS), which Swiss TPH designed and implemented in multiple countries to improve the efficiency and transparency of insurance schemes. The system uses mobile phones to optimise insurance processes and forms the basis of the global openIMIS Initiative, where Swiss TPH contributes to the development of an open source solution for managing health financing schemes.
New technologies are progressively transforming healthcare delivery. In health facilities, point-of-care devices can support clinical personnel in the diagnosis and care of patients. At a system level, health information tools help aggregate and visualise data, which facilitate decision-making for managers and policy makers. To assist healthcare workers perform precise diagnoses and define an adequate treatment pathway, Swiss TPH and partners have rolled out multiple Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS).
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Our Expertise
DIGITAL TOOLS →→ ALMANACH (Algorithms for the Manage ment of Acute Childhood Illnesses), in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross, aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of children and to reduce antibiotic over prescription in Nigeria and Afghanistan
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SysRef, funded by the Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation, focuses on improving health in refugee camps in Chad
→→
Dynamic, and TIMCI both invest in CDSS that integrate artificial intelligence and diagnostic devices in Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Senegal, Myanmar and India
At a local health facility in Afghanistan, children are diagnosed and treated through the use of a tablet. Our Expertise
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Socinstrasse 57, Postfach CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland +41 (0)61 284 81 11 www.swisstph.ch