E4H Punjab TOR – Capacity Building of Punjab Prison Hospitals to Achieve MSDS Compliance and PHC Licensing

Programme Overview

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 governance and institutional capacity for integrated health and population services.

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

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

Background and Problem Statement

The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHCC) regulates all public and private healthcare establishments (HCEs) under the PHC Act 2010 through the enforcement of Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS).

Following the transfer of 45 prison hospitals to the Health & Population Department (H&PD), significant compliance gaps were observed in infection control, staff capacity, and quality assurance mechanisms. Only a small number of facilities are currently eligible for PHC licensing.

This TA will build institutional capacity across Punjab’s prison hospitals to achieve MSDS compliance and PHC licensing readiness, contributing to equitable and safe healthcare delivery for inmates.

Objectives

• Strengthen staff capacity and awareness of MSDS standards.
• Develop compliance improvement plans and training modules.
• Facilitate inter-departmental coordination with PHCC, H&PD, and the Prisons Department.
• Conduct mock inspections and recommend institutional mechanisms for sustained compliance.

Scope of Work and Methodology

1. Phase 1 – Inception & Coordination: Planning meetings, review of departmental assessments, finalisation of inception report and work plan.
2. Phase 2 – Capacity Building: Develop/adapt MSDS implementation toolkits and deliver two 3-day Training of Trainers (ToTs) for QA staff.
3. Phase 3 – Monitoring & Handholding: Conduct on-site mentoring and mock inspections; assist in designing a compliance dashboard.
4. Phase 4 – Reporting & Institutionalisation: Prepare a final technical report and sustainability roadmap for H&PD and PHCC.

Deliverables

1. Inception Report & Work Plan.
2. Training Report with participant evaluations and learning outcomes.
3. Final Technical Report with mock inspection findings and institutionalisation recommendations.

Research Associate (Junior National)

• LOE: 108 days (subject to change)

• Period: Nov-25 to May-26

Role Requirements

Support data collection, compliance tracking, dashboard management, and documentation. Assist field teams in verification, reporting, and training logistics.

Technical Expertise

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Statistics, Health Management, or related discipline. Minimum 5 years’ overall experience - experience in data management, monitoring, or compliance audits. Familiarity with PHCC MSDS domains, data visualisation tools (Excel, Power BI), and quality reporting formats preferred.

Core Competencies

Quantitative and documentation skills; Attention to detail; Data management; Coordination; Proficiency in MS Office and visualisation tools; Reporting and communication.

Deliverables

Same as overall TA deliverables.