Consultant/Assessors to Support Strengthening Public Health Laboratories

Organization: FIND accelerates equitable access to reliable diagnosis around the world. We are working to close critical testing gaps that leave people at risk from preventable and treatable illnesses, enable effective disease surveillance, and build sustainable, resilient health systems. In partnership with countries, WHO and other global health agencies, we are driving progress towards global health security and universal health coverage. We are a WHO Collaborating Centre for Laboratory Strengthening and Diagnostic Technology Evaluation. For more information, please visit www.finddx.org Project Background: Accurate diagnosis is fundamental to effective disease management and positive health outcomes. However, many parts of India lack quality diagnostic services due to deficits in laboratory infrastructure, equipment, and skilled technicians. This leads to inadequate testing, inaccurate results, and missed or delayed diagnosis, compromising patient care. The state of Chhattisgarh exemplifies India's diagnostic challenges. With limited healthcare access, Chhattisgarh's testing services are hampered by scarcity of sophisticated labs, lack of modern diagnostic tools, and shortage of well-trained lab technicians. Most district- and sub-district-level facilities have limited testing capacity and primarily rely on empirical diagnosis based on symptoms rather than confirmatory lab tests. The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics is ideally positioned to build local capabilities through a specialized lab technician training program. By transferring hands-on skills and knowledge to use diagnostics appropriately, FIND can help bridge competency gaps and promote accurate testing. Targeted training of Chhattisgarh's lab workforce will have immense benefits - technicians will gain greater proficiency in utilizing existing diagnostics, be equipped to adopt newer tools, reduce errors, and enhance result reliability. Project Objectives: The proposed activities under the project will ensure adoption of IPHL guidelines and follow IPHS-NHM norms at each level of health facilities. The project intends to lead to following outcomes: Engage with state government to advocate adoption of IPHL and NEDL guidelines. Train and create a pool of master trainers who can sustain the capacity building initiative in their respective districts. Technical upskilling of in-service lab staff to allow them to conduct their job responsibilities efficiently. erweHMa BIpnb Foster a diagnostic community at state- and district-level to facilitate networking for promoting efficient mechanism of communication, and trouble shooting. Job description: 1. Complete program and field reports Support team and laboratories to streamline and complete documentation (including but not limited to SOPs, reports etc.) activities and propose troubleshooting solutions for quality related issues & operational issues for laboratories Support to complete and finalize assessment report and share with relevant stakeholders. 2. Support Training, Mentoring & Capacity Building initiatives as a Trainer or a Mentor. 3. Provide support in review of training material & develop relevant technical content based on requirements. 4. Conduct programmatic & laboratory quality assessment as per identified checklist at health Facilities in the state of Chhattisgarh. 5. Participate in introductory and end assessment meetings. 6. Provide guidance/ feedback along with action plan at end of the assessment. 7. Maintain the confidentiality of the information pertaining to the laboratory gathered during the assessment or through other documents/records of the laboratory, even after the termination or expiry of the agreement and develop technical content as required. Experience and qualifications: Ph.D(Immunology/Microbiology/Pathology/Biochemistry etc.),Medical Graduate/MD in Pathology/Microbiology/Biochemistry/ Medicine etc. NABL/NQAS / ISO 15189 Assessors (Desirable). Minimum of 12 years of relevant work experience.

FIND accelerates equitable access to reliable diagnosis around the world. We are working to close critical testing gaps that leave people at risk from preventable and treatable illnesses, enable effective disease surveillance, and build sustainable, resilient health systems. In partnership with countries, WHO and other global health agencies, we are driving progress towards global health security and universal health coverage. We are a WHO Collaborating Centre for Laboratory Strengthening and Diagnostic Technology Evaluation.