Call for Expressions of Interest and Proposal
VN#027 – Job Title: Expanding the model of early intensified diagnosis and clinical management of severe acute espiratory infection (SARI), including Avian influenza in provincial and district hospital in Viet Nam
1. Background
Vietnam is considered a hotspot for emerging infectious diseases, particularly those that lead to severe acute respiratory infections (SARIs). Over the past 30 years, the country has experienced several outbreaks of serious respiratory illnesses, including SARS-CoV, avian influenza A (H5N1), and the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Although hospitals and the healthcare system have made significant strides in managing SARI cases, these infections continue to place a heavy burden on Vietnam’s healthcare infrastructure.
Between 2018 and 2019, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), Hanoi Medical University carried out an observational study across critical care units (CCUs) in more than 40 public hospitals across five provinces. The findings revealed that SARI cases made up about 25% of CCU admissions, with a high 7-day mortality rate of 6.6%. The study also highlighted disparities in healthcare capacity: while district-level facilities lacked adequate diagnostic and treatment resources, provincial-level facilities had underutilized capabilities. These findings underscore the need for a standardized model for early diagnosis and effective management of SARI, tailored to Vietnam’s resource-limited settings.
The main goal of this initiative is to improve the quality of SARI management by creating a pilot model that strengthens laboratory diagnostics and standardized treatment protocols at both provincial and district hospitals in Vietnam. This includes evaluating the current capabilities for diagnosing and managing SARI, reviewing the patient transfer process between hospitals, and assessing communication between provincial and district facilities. In 2024, WHO in collaboration with the Hanoi Medical University (HMU) successfully developed this model in 4 district hospitals in Hanoi.
To support the expansion of this model, WHO is inviting applications from local institutions, agencies, or organizations in Viet Nam to carry out activities aimed at strengthening early detection and clinical management of severe influenza and SARI cases. The selected APW (Agreement for Performance of Work) holder will also be responsible for applying the methodologies and tools developed under the 2024 pilot model to introduce and expand the model to other hospitals in the context of transition of administrative organization from 3 levels to 2 levels.
The project will support provincial and district hospitals in by improves diagnostic accuracy, patient care, and emergency response and reduces overload at central hospitals (by empowering lower-tier hospitals to handle more complex cases, it reduces unnecessary referrals) and promotes equity in healthcare access. Trained staff can better manage surge capacity and respond to emergencies and endemics.
2. Planned timelines (subject to confirmation)
Start date: 20 Aug 2025
End date: 31 Dec 2025
3. Work to be performed
Method(s) to carry out the activity
The APW will be conducted in one provincial hospital and several sub-regional hospitals (formerly district hospitals) within a selected province. Although these hospitals have been renamed from district hospitals, their functions, locations, and referral systems remain unchanged. However, staffing and catchment areas may have been adjusted due to provincial restructuring. These changes are not expected to significantly impact the APW activities.
District hospitals now act as the primary referral points for commune health stations and serve as the entryway to provincial hospitals. Under the current two-tiered system, they are responsible for assessing and stabilizing patients before transferring more complex cases to provincial facilities. This role places pressure on them to maintain essential diagnostic and treatment services. To support this, the project will implement the DOHA (Direction of Healthcare Activities) initiative, which promotes technical assistance and training from higher-level hospitals to strengthen district-level capabilities.
The APW holder, with technical support from WHO Viet Nam, will develop early intensified laboratory diagnosis and clinical management of SARI in provincial and district hospitals in Viet Nam. The APW holder will be under guidance from the WHO representative office in Viet Nam to scale up the pilot model for early, enhanced diagnosis and comprehensive management of SARI in a selected province with the following activities:
- Organize training sessions on the clinical management of Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) for healthcare professionals working in provincial and sub-regional hospitals.
- Enhance early detection of SARI cases by promoting the use of rapid diagnostic tests at sub-regional hospitals, enabling timely identification of influenza and other respiratory pathogens.
- Offer technical guidance on the clinical care of SARI patients, including initial treatment and ongoing patient management.
- Support severity assessment of SARI cases to ensure appropriate and timely referral to higher-level healthcare facilities when needed.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the model’s implementation by distributing an online survey to participating hospitals 6–9 months after the activities are completed.
Expected outcome:
The capacity of healthcare workers at sub-regional hospitals to detect SARI and potentially severe influenza cases early has improved. This enhancement supports timely treatment, helps prevent disease progression, reduces the burden on provincial and central hospitals, and ultimately contributes to lowering the severity and mortality rates of SARI and influenza cases.
The expected outcome of the project:
- Improved clinical capabilities at district and provincial hospitals, enabling them to manage more complex medical cases locally.
- Strengthened coordination between provincial and district hospitals for patient referrals and technical support.
- Decreased need for patient transfers to higher-level hospitals by effectively treating manageable conditions at lower-tier facilities.
- Established standardized protocols for technical collaboration and knowledge exchange between different levels of the healthcare system.
Monitoring:
Provincial hospital will be encouraged to monitor and identify patterns in patient transfers from district hospitals after the pilot implementation to assess appropriateness of referrals
Key indicators will include:
- Proportion of respiratory infections, including influenza, that are promptly and accurately diagnosed using rapid testing methods.
- Rate of detection and treatment of SARI cases at sub-regional hospitals.
- Frequency of referrals for SARI cases to higher-level healthcare facilities.
- Mortality rate associated with SARI cases.
Output & Deliverables:
Output 1: Strengthening the capacity of clinical management of SARI.
Deliverable 1.1: 01 training course of clinical management of SARI for doctors in several target provincial and district hospitals with a training package developed and a training report.
Deliverable 1.2 Develop 03 standard operating procedures (SOPs) of diagnosis and management of SARI cases and transferring patients with SARI.
Deliverable(s) to be submitted during and after the period of the assignment including manner of delivery and payment.
The payment will be made according to the schedule deliverables as below:
|
No |
Item/Description |
Time frame |
Percentage |
|
1 |
Upon countersigned APW contract by the contractor |
As soon as the contract has been issued |
0% |
|
2 |
Upon submission of interim mission report and financial statement/invoice |
As and when completed on or before 30 September 2025 |
50% |
|
3 |
Upon submission of final activities report and financial statement/final invoice |
As and when completed on or before 31 December 2025 |
50% |
4. Technical Supervision
The selected APW holder will work under the supervision of:
|
Responsible Officer: |
Technical Officer, Health Security Team |
|
Manager: |
Health Security team lead |
5. Specific requirements:
The selected APW holder must:
- Team Leader’s requirements:
- A PhD degree and/or postgraduate qualifications related to infectious disease or emergency medicine.
- Minimum 10-year experience of working in infectious diseases, particularly in SARI management.
- Previous experience of working with WHO.
- Holding a communication network of provincial/district hospitals is advantage.
- Team members’ requirements:
- At least a graduate degree and/or work experience in infectious diseases.
- At least 3 years of experiences in infectious diseases or emergency medicine, in SARI case management.
- Demonstrated experience in surveillance or study design, implementation, and evaluation for communicable diseases.
- Experiences working with WHO, Ministry of Health and public hospitals in Viet Nam is an advantage.
- Skills/Technical skills and knowledge: advanced knowledge in emerging infectious disease, SARI and emergency medicine.
- Language: written and spoken fluency in English is essential.
6. Place of assignment:
Hanoi, Viet Nam
The APW holder will work at their own base
7. Detailed Cost & Budget Breakdown
All bids will be evaluated based on the submitted proposals with detailed budget breakdown in term of the technical requirements, timeliness, and value for money.
8. Travel
The holder of this APW is required to travel in the target province.
Those who are interested can contact our focal person before/by 17:00 on 8 August 2025
Administrative Officer World Health Organization
Subject: Application for VN#027 – Expanding the model of early intensified diagnosis and clinical management of severe acute espiratory infection (SARI), including Avian influenza in provincial and district hospital in Viet Nam