(Salary: $11,455,206.00 per annum)
JOB PURPOSE
Under the Permanent Secretary, the Chief Technical Director Standards and Regulation Division is responsible to lead the process of developing policies, standards and guidelines for the regulation, monitoring and control of health related products, service delivery, professional practice and institutional operations in the public and private Health and Wellness sectors in Jamaica; to ensure conformity and adherence to laws, regulations, policies, standards and guidelines established by the Ministry of Health and Wellness thereby ensuring access to safe, efficacious and quality health products and services. The Officer will manage the policy and programmes for the post market surveillance of healthcare products within the Jamaica public health system ensuring compliance with international laws and regulations. The Officer is also responsible for advising the Minister on his/her execution of authorities under the Food and Drug Act and Regulations; the Nursing Homes Registration Act and Regulations; the Dangerous Drugs Act and Regulations and the Precursor Chemicals Acts and Regulations.
KEY OUTPUT
- Standards and guidelines for use in public and private health institutions and facilities for delivery of traditional and non-traditional health services in Jamaica.
- Hospitals certified, accredited and standards monitored
- Nursing homes certified, accredited and standards monitored
- Safe, suitable healthcare products for use in Jamaica
- An effective regulatory framework to ensure conformity with laws, standards and guidelines for the use of drugs, natural health products and other regulated healthcare products and the delivery of services
- Timely accurate reports
- An effective Advisory Panel Mechanism
- An effective Client Satisfaction Mechanism
- Timely response and sound advice and accurate information to The Minister, Chief Medical Officer and Permanent Secretary
- Operational Plan and Budget for Division
- Maintenance of relationships with external regional and international partners in health.
Key responsibility areas INCLUDES:
- Advises the Minister of health and wellness on the granting of licenses and permits for the applications for the use of new pharmaceuticals and other healthcare related products in Jamaica to include medical devices and natural health products.
- Manages the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes for the establishment and maintenance of standards and norms for the regulation and control of professional practice, institutional operations and services and products in the Health and Wellness sector of Jamaica.
- Develops mechanisms for establishing and maintaining an effective regulatory and legislative framework.
- Develops and maintain a framework for receiving complaints and investigating and monitoring individuals, institutions and systems within the Health and Wellness sector.
- Facilitate effective enforcement of standards and regulations within all areas of the Health and Wellness sector in collaboration with Councils, Boards, Tribunals and other regulatory authorities.
- Maintains systems for effecting the registration and re-registration of products, entities and institutions involved in Health and Wellness services in both public and private sectors.
- Establishes and maintains important regional and international linkages to provide support for strengthening regulatory mechanisms.
Management/ Administrative Responsibilities
- Plans, organizes, directs and controls the work and staff of the Standards and Regulation Division. by:
- Overseeing the preparation of the Division’s Strategic, Operational and Work Plans and Programmes in support of the Ministry’s Corporate Plan, and ensures that staff members are effectively utilized for optimal productivity.
- Identifying training/ development needs of staff with the assistance of the Human Resource Planning and Development Unit and make provisions in the budget.
- Preparing and managing the annual budget in accordance with the annual operational plan for the Division
- Manages the implementation of the Division’s Corporate and Operational Plans and Budget.
- Manages the implementation of and ensure maintenance of ISO 9001:2015 Quality management System Certification for the Division.
- Sets measurable goals with deadlines, measures progress against established indicators and corrects any variance, as necessary.
- Prepares and submits activity and other comprehensive reports as required.
- Provides effective leadership and monitoring, in collaboration with key stakeholders, for the procurement of goods and services in respect of the Division.
- Provides leadership and ensures the effective functioning of selected councils, Boards/authorities/agencies that fall under the purview of the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
- Represents the organization locally, regionally and internationally.
- Provides guidance to the Minister of Health and Wellness, Chief Medical Officer, Permanent secretary on matters relating to the work of the Division.
Technical Responsibilities
- Participates in the development of the strategic direction of the Ministry and its Strategic and Corporate Plans.
- Provides technical, professional and medico-legal guidance both locally and internationally on standards, guidelines, regulations and other issues.
- Collaborates with health and legal professionals in establishing appropriate legislations and standards to be adhered to in the public and private health sectors and initiate and assist in establishing appropriate mechanisms for enforcement.
- Oversees the implementation of policy and legislative changes relating to functions within the position’s span of control.
- Manages the activities of the Advisory Panel Mechanisms for the conduct of research in humans; for the practice of complementary/ alternate medicine by alternate health practitioners not recognized in any Act or Regulations governing the delivery of health-related services in the public or private sector in Jamaica; for the review of clinical complaints – The Medical Review Panel; for the approval of pharmaceuticals and other healthcare related products for use in Jamaica. .
- Ensures that health service delivery institutions are appropriately registered and that training institutions/ programees are accredited to deliver the quality of service in the public and private sector.
- Collaborates with technical staff with the Ministry in the development of standards to ensure that services and products provided to the public are appropriate, cost-effective and of desired quality.
- Determines training requirements and needs to ensure capacity building and arousing.
- Ensure the establishment of standards for traditional/ alternative technologies, e.g. iridology, chiropody, acupuncture, reflexology, used in the treatment of diseases, disorders or abnormal physical states.
- Initiates and guide research and investigations into the development of standards for professional conduct and institutional operation and management and medico-legal issues.
- Collaborates with the Chief Medical Officer in advising and liaising with the Legal Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Office of the Attorney General on medico-legal matters.
- Develops mechanisms for the receipt of complaints and investigating and monitoring individuals, systems and institutions involved in the Health and Wellness sector.
- Establish mechanisms to facilitate timely audit of health systems and services in the public and private sectors such as medical laboratories, hospitals, drug manufacturers, dialysis centres, and nursing homes and procedures for appropriate sanctions where non-conformities are identified.
- Formulates policies and programmes to ensure the safety, efficacy and quality of all Drugs, herbal products, foods, cosmetics, devices and chemicals, imported, manufactured distributed and sold in Jamaica and strengthen the awareness of providers and consumers regarding the role and value of Regulations in the Health and Wellness sector
- Monitors international relations with regulatory bodies and represents the organization regionally and internally at seminars and conventions.
- Establish mechanisms to ensure and monitor compliance with Regional and International Agreements and Conventions as appropriate.
- Liaises with statutory agencies, which take regulatory decisions relating to health.
- Interfaces with councils for standards setting and regulation of professional disciplines ensuring that they operate within their mandate demonstrating equity and fairness
- Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of selected Boards/ Authorities/ Agencies in carrying out their mandates.
- Establishes policies, procedures, protocols and legal framework for the registration/ licensure of individuals, entities/ institutions involved in delivery of health services which are not governed by councils.
- Establishes policies and programmes to ensure the quality, safety, efficacy of products and procedures used for diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic or rehabilitative purposes, pharmaceuticals, foods, cosmetics, herbal products and narcotics imported, distributed or manufactured for use in Jamaica.
- Provides sound technical advice and technical support to the Permanent Secretary and Chief Medical Officer on policies, standards, regulations, guidelines and other issues.
- Maintains contact with national and international organizations on health-related issues, evaluate existing or new health technology and advise on the appropriateness for use in the Health and Wellness sector (public and private).
- Performs other related duties as assigned by the Chief Medical Officer of Health and Permanent Secretary
Human Resources Responsibilities
- Manages the welfare and development of staff in the Division through the preparation of Performance Management Appraisals and recommendation of required training and development programmes and making provisions in the budget.
- Provides leadership to staff by means of effective objective setting, delegation of functions and timely communication
- Provides guidance to staff through coaching, mentoring and providing technical and other support when necessary.
- Collaborates with the Human resources Department on maintaining adequate staff levels as well as sourcing appropriate training programmes for staff.
- Ensure that staff are aware of and adheres to established policies and procedures of the Ministry.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
- A high level of performance is demonstrated consistently.
- Stipulated deadlines are consistently met.
- All pharmaceuticals imported into the island are screened for quality, safety and efficacy.
- Reports are technically correct, comprehensive and delivered on a timely basis.
- Standards for the delivery of traditional and non-traditional Health Services in Jamaica are developed, documented and disseminated.
- An effective regulatory framework is implemented to ensure compliance with Health Standards, safeguarding the health of the Jamaican population.
- Sound advice and accurate information is given to the Chief Medical Officer and Permanent Secretary.
- Confidentiality of Information obtained on the job is preserved.
- A team approach is adopted with the staff of Standards and Regulation when critical decisions or changes are made.
Minimum Required Education and Experience
- Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree from a recognized University
- Masters in Pharmacy/ Public Health
- Post Graduate Diploma in Management/ Public Administration
- Training in the area of Quality Assurance/ Standards Development / Project management would be an asset.
- Twelve (12) years progressive working experience in health systems standards and regulations; six (6) of which should be in a management capacity
Any equivalent accumulated working experience in the health sector.
Kindly submit a cover letter and resume along with the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of two (2) references, one of whom must be a former or current supervisor.