Page 38 – Public Health Update

WHO Country Cooperation Strategy 2023–2027: Nepal

by Public Health Update September 20, 2023

The Nepal–WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2023–2027 sets out how the World Health Organization will work with the country over the next five years. It is informed by the aspirations of the Nepal Health Sector – Strategic Plan 2023–2030, the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan (2019/2020–2023/2024) of the Government of Nepal, WHO global Strategic Priorities, as articulated in the Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 13) with the SDG-based Triple Billion targets, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Nepal 2023–2027.

The four Strategic Priorities of the CCS 2023–2027 are:

Strengthening the federal health system with a focus on primary health care and institutional capacity-building to achieve universal health coverage, identify implementation bottlenecks and reach vulnerable and underserved populations;
Enhancing the national capacity for managing health security threats, using an all-hazard approach, and building resilient health systems at federal and subnational levels;
Harnessing the use of data, research and digital technologies for guiding health planning, innovation and monitoring of service delivery at federal, provincial and local government levels; and
Addressing determinants for better health outcomes through multisectoral platforms and effective partnerships.

Strategic priorities for Nepal – WHO cooperation

Strengthen the federal health system by focusing on primary health care and institutional capacity-building to achieve universal health coverage, identify implementation bottlenecks and reach the vulnerable and underserved population.

Focus areas:
Health system strengthening

Ensure technical support for implementation, review and monitoring of the Health Sector Strategic Action Plan, based on WHO normative work, translating international guidelines and evidence-based best practices into action.
Provide technical support to the MoHP for developing technical briefs and guidance notes on health system strengthening in the federal context.
Strategize technical assistance to accelerate implementation of federal, provincial and local-level health policies, frameworks and guidelines.
Technical support in implementation and monitoring of basic health services delivery.

Human resources for health
This involves technical assistance in effective planning for equitable distribution of well-qualified human resources at federal, provincial and local government levels, as part of the implementation of the National Human Resources for Health Strategy (2021–2030) with a special focus on PHC.

Promote PHC-based health workforce policies and practices and advocacy for increasing health staff in rural, hard-to-reach and underserved areas.
Strengthen HRH information system for strategic planning, projections of human resource needs and reviews of the organizational structure of health facilities to better manage HR recruitment and deployment.
Enhance human resource competency through training of health staff, including adoption of digital transformation in training and education as well as system mapping of Health Training system to support in the update & development of national health training strategy.
Strengthen human resources in regulatory institutions at the federal level.
Supporting to improve the institutional capacity of Health Training system at federal and province level.

Public financing of the health sector, paying attention to access to services for all people, including underprivileged and vulnerable groups, and out-of-pocket expenditure, involves:

advocacy and technical assistance for improved social protection in the health sector through the provision and efficient financing mechanism for basic health services and support to the health insurance system in reviewing health insurance benefit package, strengthening provider payment mechanism, and developing health insurance related plans, strategies, and policies.
National health accounts (NHA) at national and provincial levels, along with technical and policy briefs that are produced annually; the capacity of national and provincial stakeholders is built on the preparation and use of NHA to institutionalize these at federal and provincial levels; and
the National Health Financing Strategy (2022–2032) and its effective implementation to enhance fiscal space for investments in the health sector.

Quality of health care

Technical support using WHO guidelines for enhancing quality health services at national, provincial and facility levels involves:
– ensuring quality diagnostic services through internal and external quality assurance systems;
– implementing health service quality standards, protocols and guidelines.
In collaboration with partners support Government to improve and maintain WASH infrastructures and promote WASH at health-care facilities as being essential for improving the quality of care and preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance and ensure technical support for development and implementation of the roadmap for WASH at health-care facilities.
Support different levels of government for institutional development and capacity building regarding HCWM and WASH in health care facilities
Enhance support for scaling up of water and sanitation for health facility improvement tool (WASHFIT)
Perform compliance monitoring of national standards for WASH at healthcare facilities, including WASH at health-care facilities indicators in IHMIS.
Ensure technical support for implementation of service standards and infection prevention guidelines at the point of health service.
Promote minimum reference standards for safety and quality of Ayurveda practice in line with the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy.
Develop and implement patient safety action plan for assuring quality health services at point of care.

Adoption of digital technology in health service delivery, information management and monitoring in line with WHO guideline involves recommendations on digital interventions for health system strengthening.

Access to essential medicines and diagnostics, having in place institutional capacity for regulation and quality assurance of local production and import of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and vaccines (Department of Drug Administration):

Continue support for the assessment of the Department of Drug Administration and the National Medicines Laboratory, using the WHO Global Benchmarking tool for evaluation of national regulatory system of medical products, and facilitate implementation of the Institutional Development Plan (IDP).

Ensure technical support to facilitate domestic production of essential medicines.

Assess the current situation of local pharmaceutical manufacturing to recommend an action plan to facilitate domestic production of quality essential medicines.
Ensure capacity-building of local manufacturers of medicines with regard to the current good manufacturing practices (CGMP), technology transfer and WHO prequalification.
Ensure capacity-building to monitor the safety of vaccines and biologicals.

Strengthen the National Medicines Laboratory to improve the quality control and quality assurance mechanism of medical products.

Ensure technical assistance to enhance the regulatory mechanism for oversight of private health-care providers with a special emphasis on quality of care, adherence to national treatment guidelines, reporting essential health data to national programmes and formulating policies that minimize out-of-pocket payments.

2. Enhancing the national capacity for managing health security threats, using an all-hazard approach, and building resilient health systems at federal and subnational levels;

3. Harnessing the use of data, research and digital technologies for guiding health planning, innovation and monitoring of service delivery at federal, provincial and local government levels; and

4. Addressing determinants for better health outcomes through multisectoral platforms and effective partnerships.

READ MORE: DOWNLOAD PDF FILE
Country Cooperation Strategy 2023–2027: Nepal. New Delhi: World Health Organization, Regional Office for South-East Asia; 2023. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

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September 20, 2023 0 comments

Global stakeholders agree to a new charter on patient safety rights

by Public Health Update September 14, 2023

written by Public Health Update

The WHO-hosted global conference on patient safety and patient engagement concluded yesterday with agreement across a broad range of stakeholders on a first-ever Patient safety rights charter. It outlines the core rights of all patients in the context of safety of health care and seeks to assist governments and other stakeholders to ensure that the voices of patients are heard and their right to safe health care is protected.

“Patient safety is a collective responsibility. Health systems must work hand-in-hand with patients, families, and communities, so that patients can be informed advocates in their own care, and every person can receive the safe, dignified, and compassionate care they deserve,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Because if it’s not safe, it’s not care.”

Patient safety is an ethical and moral imperative grounded in the health care principle ‘First, do no harm!’, which lies at the heart of efforts to ensure high-quality health care systems and achieve universal health coverage. Yet, an estimated one in every 10 patients experience harm in health care facilities and each year there are more than three million deaths globally due to unsafe health care.

Most of the patient harm is preventable, and the engagement of patients, families and caregivers is one of the most important strategies for reducing harm. This year’s World Patient Safety Day seeks to highlight the critical importance of listening to patients, families and caregivers, learning from their experiences, and involving them in every aspect of care, to avoid harm, lower the risk of errors and reduce the impact of harm when it does occur. This requires a shift in paradigm, from care designed for patients to care designed with patients, their families and caregivers.

“Our health systems are stronger, our work is empowered, and our care is safer when patients and families are alongside us,” said Sir Liam Donaldson, WHO Patient Safety Envoy. “The journey to eliminate avoidable harm in health care has been a long one, and the stories of courage and compassion from patients and families who have suffered harm are pivotal to driving change and learning to be even safer.”

The global conference on patient engagement for patient safety was the key event to mark World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) which will be observed on 17 September under the theme “Engaging patients for patient safety”. Meaningful involvement of patients, families and caregivers in the provision of health care, and their experiences and perspectives, can contribute to enhancing health care safety and quality, saving lives and reducing costs, and the WPSD aims to promote and accelerate better patient and family engagement in the design and delivery of safe health services.

The conference was held on 12 and 13 September at WHO headquarters in Geneva and online, with the participation of more than 2 300 people from all six WHO regions, including patient advocates and representatives of patients’ organizations, who took an active role in the development of the Patient safety rights charter, a significant step forward in the global commitment to safer health systems. Its advanced version will be released and open for public consultation as part of the activities to commemorate World Patient Safety Day 2023.

At the conference, WHO unveiled two new resources to support key stakeholders in implementing involvement of patients, families and caregivers in the provision of health care. Drawing on the power of patient stories, which is one of the most effective mechanisms for driving improvements in patient safety, a storytelling toolkit will guide patients and families through the process of sharing their experiences, especially those related to harmful events within health care. The Global Knowledge Sharing Platform, created as part of a strategic partnership with SingHealth Institute for Patient Safety and Quality Singapore, supports the exchange of global resources, best practices, tools and resources related to patient safety, acknowledging the pivotal role of knowledge sharing in advancing safety.

Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030

“Patient engagement and empowerment is at the core of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030. It is one of the most powerful tools to improve patient safety and the quality of care, but it remains an untapped resource in many countries, and the weakest link in the implementation of patient safety measures and strategies. With this World Patient Safety Day and the focus on patient engagement, we want to change that”, said Dr Neelam Dhingra, head of the WHO Patient Safety Flagship.

According to the interim results of the 2023 survey of WHO Member States on the implementation of the global patient safety action plan, only 13% of responding countries have a patient representative on the governing board (or an equivalent mechanism) in the majority of their hospitals. The survey also highlighted the income-based implementation gap, with good practices largely concentrated in higher-income countries.

14 September 2023 News release Geneva, Switzerland

September 14, 2023 0 comments

Non- Communicable Diseases (NCDs)Op-Ed Article Public Health

Humanity: The best medicine for improving mental health

by Public Health Update September 11, 2023

written by Public Health Update

Pragya Sharma, M.Sc. Public Health (Global Health Track), Kathmandu University

Mental health is so much about people around us, we call this social support. Modern living and growing capitalism are encouraging individualism and a sense of independence in people, which is beneficial in certain ways but can also have negative effects such as an increase in arrogance among the individuals. People have begun to treat one another inhumanely in the name of independence. Homo sapiens must have fought alongside many other species in the early days of civilization in order to live, yet today, we are battling or oblivious to one another’s presence.

The World Health Organization defines mental health as a “state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”

These days, mental health is frequently discussed about, and this is crucial too. Huge investments are being made on research activities, interventions and programs targeted at improving the mental health of individuals. But until a human treats another in a human way, none of these will make sense. No matter how peaceful the external environment might be, if there are chaos inside one’s head, his/her mental health cannot be in good state. The most significant and effective method for a human to deal with the chaos can be another human’s emotional support. Requirement of such emotional and moral support from fellow humans is not only limited from the family members but also from those in the workplace, schools/colleges or even random streets. Being considerate towards each other doesn’t take a lot but contributes so much to people’s well-being, especially in today’s context of globalization where many live away from their families and close ones.

Humans have many similarities, yet everyone has a unique personality. Not everyone is an extrovert and good with confrontation or confession. If we are emotionally sensitive and empathetic enough to understand each other’s feelings, people do not have to suppress what they feel, be there for each other, one can ask others about how s/he feels. Doing all of this makes us humans, not stupid or an easy pick for manipulation. But unfortunately, today’s reality is much more about making fun of someone’s personality, treating someone differently because of his/her certain traits, making individuals feel excluded and simultaneously, advocating about good mental health.

If we are into improving mental health of humans, along with the research, interventions and programs, being more of a human by embracing human emotions rather than ignoring them, empathizing with fellow humans and moving towards a higher emotional intelligence are to be considered by every one of us.

Reference: Mental health. [cited 2023 Sep 8]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response.

Sharma, P. (2023). Humanity: The best medicine for improving mental health. Public Health Update. https://publichealthupdate.com/humanity-the-best-medicine-for-improving-mental-health/

Universal Access to Reliable Healthcare Information: A Global Stakeholder Consultation

by Public Health Update September 6, 2023

written by Public Health Update

Help shape the future of health care worldwide!

Healthcare Information For All (HIFA.org) and the World Health Organization (WHO) invite YOU to contribute your voice to a global survey to accelerate progress towards universal access to reliable healthcare information: www.hifa.org/survey2023, HIFA launched a survey which is the first critical step towards universal access to reliable healthcare information, as part of a Collaboration Plan agreed with the World Health Organization (WHO). Please take this first step with us and complete the survey. Your voice is important.

Can you imagine a world where every person and every health worker has timely access to the information they need to protect their own health and the health of others? Where every person is protected from misinformation?

The results of this survey will be made publicly available and will inform next steps by the World Health Organization, Healthcare Information For All (HIFA) and partners on how to accelerate progress in 2024 and beyond.
Thank you for your support!

Any questions? See www.hifa.org or contact the HIFA Coordinator (Dr Neil Pakenham-Walsh): neil@hifa.org

Note: This survey has 21 questions and we invite you to answer as many as you can. Many of the questions in this survey are global in nature but there is an opportunity to share your personal and professional experience at the end if you wish. You have the option to complete the survey anonymously. If you choose to provide any personal details, these will be handled responsibly.

COMPLETE HIFA SURVEY NOW

September 6, 2023 0 comments

European Region Fellowships, Studentship & Scholarships Grants and Funding Opportunities International Jobs & Opportunities Master's Degree Opportunities by Region Public Health Public Health Opportunities Public Health Opportunity School of Public Health Universities & School of Public Health

Chevening Fully-funded UK Government Scholarships 2024/2025

by Public Health Update September 5, 2023

written by Public Health Update

Overview

Chevening Scholarships is a fully-funded scholarships to undertake any master’s course at any UK university which enables outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK. Because these scholarships are fully-funded (flights, accommodation, and course fees are all included), you are free to focus on achieving your professional goals and maximising the experience of a lifetime. You will live and study in the UK for a year, during which time you will develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK culture, and build lasting positive relationships with the UK. On completing your studies, you will leave the UK equipped with the knowledge and networks necessary to bring your own ideas to life.

Public Health Courses in UK (For Chevening Applicants)

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship you must:

Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory.
Return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after your award has ended.
Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree that will enable you to gain entry onto a postgraduate programme at a UK university by the time you submit your application. This is typically equivalent to an upper second-class 2:1 honours degree in the UK but may be different depending on your course and university choice.
Have at least two years (equivalent to 2,800 hours) of work experience.
Apply to three different eligible UK university courses and have received an unconditional offer from one of these choices by the deadline listed on the application timeline.

You are not eligible for a Chevening Scholarship if you:

Hold British or dual British citizenship (unless you are a citizen of a British Overseas Territory or hold BN(O) and are applying from Hong Kong).
Hold refugee status in a non-Chevening eligible country. Applicants who are citizens of a Chevening-eligible country and who hold refugee status in a Chevening-eligible country are eligible for a scholarship.
Are an employee, a former employee, or relative* of an employee of His Majesty’s Government, or have been within the last two years from the opening of Chevening applications (including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, all British Embassies/High Commissions, the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for International Trade and the UKVI), the British Council, a sponsoring UK university, or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
Employees, former employees, or relatives* of an employee of Chevening Partner organisations are eligible to apply, but if the employment took place within the last two years, you cannot receive a Chevening Partner Award from the organisation from which you work, previously worked, or are affiliated with through relatives.
Have previously studied in the UK with funding from a UK Government-funded scholarship.

Having a master’s degree does not prevent you from applying for a Chevening Award to study for a second master’s degree in the UK, as long as you can clearly explain why it will help you fulfil your career plan to influence positive change in your home country.

Once submitted, applications undergo an electronic sift against our eligibility criteria. Any applications deemed ineligible will be removed from the selection process. Please see the list of common errors here. If you make these errors in your application form, your application will be ineligible. Please note that once your application has been submitted, it is not possible to change it retrospectively.

Postgraduate Public Health courses in United Kingdom (UK)

Preparation

Preparation is key to giving yourself the best chance of being awarded a fully funded Chevening Scholarship to study in the UK. To help you, we’ve collated our best guidance and advice.

It will enable you to:

Find the right courses
Choose appropriate references
Avoid common mistakes that other applicants make

Courses

Applicants are required to select three course choices when applying for a Chevening Award. This means that you will have alternative options if, for any reason, you are not offered a place on your first course option. It also provides our assessors with a clearer picture of your career goals and they may suggest your second or third course choice as a more suitable option for a Chevening Award.

Public Health Courses in UK (For Chevening Applicants)

Applications for 2024/25 scholarships will open on 12 September 2023. The deadline for applications is 7 November 2023 at 12:00 GMT (midday UK time).

More info: Official website

Utrecht Excellence Scholarships 2024

by Public Health Update September 5, 2023

written by Public Health Update

The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship (UES) is a highly selective programme for talented international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA = the EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) who wish to study for a master’s degree at Utrecht University.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a Utrecht Excellence Scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:

You must belong to the top 10% of your graduating class.
You must not hold an EU/EEA passport and not be eligible for support under the Dutch study grant and loan system.
You must have completed your secondary school and/or bachelor’s degree outside the Netherlands.
You must have applied for an international master’s programme with a start date of 1 September 2023. Not all programmes participate. Please check Master’s programme > Tuition fees and financial support to see if the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship is mentioned as a scholarship opportunity.

Scholarship amount

The Utrecht Excellence scholarship can be awarded as:

the tuition fee, or
the tuition fee plus the income required for a period of one year linked to a residence permit for study as determined by the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service).

The scholarship can be renewed for the second year of two-year master’s programmes.

Deadline

Prospective students who wish to be considered for the scholarship must apply before February 1st 23:59 CET. The application portal will close at this time. Selection will only start after the deadline. We aim to publish the results by mid-April.

Selection criteria

Eligible candidates will be selected for a scholarship based on the following criteria:

Academic quality and promise in the proposed field of study, as evidenced by your master’s application.
Academic excellence, as evidenced by proof of belonging to the top 10% of your graduating class (class ranking certificate, GPA with grade distribution summary, statement/reference letter signed and stamped by your university).
The quality and relevance of your motivation letter for the master’s programme (academic content, intercultural and communication skills, personal motivation).
The quality of the application for the master’s programme itself (completeness, accuracy, consistency).

How to apply

After submitting an application (or applications) for a UES eligible master’s programme before the stated deadline, non-EU/EEA students will have the opportunity to submit an application for one Utrecht Excellence Scholarship from 1 November 2022. You will see the UES application(s) in your OSIRIS Online Application account dashboard. Click view/edit for the UES linked (related process) to the programme you wish to apply for, upload the requested proof of belonging to the top 10% of your class, answer the questions and submit the application.

Funding

The funds for the scholarships come from the Utrecht Excellence Scholarship Fund, established by Utrecht University, and contributions from Utrecht University alumni.

More Info: Official Link

International Jobs & Opportunities, International Opportunities, Jobs/Opportunities, Opportunities, Public Health Opportunities, Utrecht Excellence Scholarships

September 5, 2023 0 comments

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Gates Cambridge Scholarship Programme 2024-2025

by Public Health Update September 5, 2023

written by Public Health Update

Overview

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by a donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge; this is the largest ever single donation to a UK university. The first class of scholars came into residence in October 2001. Since then, the Trust has awarded over 2,000 scholarships to scholars from more than 100 countries.

Each year Gates Cambridge offers c.80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to PhD students, with approximately 25 awards available in the US round and 55 available in the International round.

The selection criteria are:

outstanding intellectual ability
reasons for choice of course
a commitment to improving the lives of others
leadership potential

There are approximately 250 Scholars from c. 50 countries studying in Cambridge at any one time who pursue the full range of subjects available at the University and are spread across its departments and Colleges, as well as forming their own distinctive community.

There is also a community of more than 1,700 Gates Cambridge Alumni spread across the world.

The Gates Cambridge mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. It aims to achieve this mission by selecting outstanding scholars, providing them with financial and non-financial support at one of the world’s leading universities and facilitating community building at and beyond Cambridge.

Funding

A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary funding.

Core components

the University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate*
a maintenance allowance for a single student (£20,000 for 12 months at the 2023-24 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) – for PhD scholars the award is for up to 4 years
one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge

* The University Composition Fee varies for different types of students; applicants should see the Graduate Studies prospectus for full details about precise amounts. Where a student has been successful in gaining a fee award from public authorities (such as the UKRI) they should accept this award and the Trust will not pay their fee or may share their fee and maintenance costs.

Discretionary components

The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:

Academic development funding – from up to £500 to up to £2,000, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.
Dependent Children Allowance – up to £11,604 for one child and up to £16,548 for two or more children (2023-24 rate). No funding is provided for a partner.
Fieldwork – you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your PhD (the Trust does not fund other fieldwork costs as these should be funded by the University Composition Fee).
Maternity/Paternity funding – should you require it, you may apply to intermit your studies for up to 6 months and continue to receive your maintenance allowance during this time
Hardship funding – for unforeseen difficulties facing the scholar

Receiving a salary or substantial other scholarship?

If you are receiving a salary from an employer or have another substantial scholarship, the Trust reserves the right to reduce or not pay the standard maintenance allowance. You should let the Trust know ASAP if you are awarded any funding towards your degree at Cambridge.

What is not covered?

Most costs are covered by the Scholarship but Gates Cambridge does not cover bench fees or the costs of scientific equipment or similar academic resources. The Trust expects such core course costs to be covered by the academic department at Cambridge.

Who can apply?

You can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if you are:

a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
applying to pursue one of the following courses at the University of Cambridge:
- PhD (full-time or part-time*)
- MLitt (full-time)
- One year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions – see below

* For October 2024 entry, Gates Cambridge is continuing to pilot a scheme which allows applicants to apply for funding for a part-time doctoral degree.

Current student at Cambridge?

If you are currently studying at Cambridge and wish to apply for a new postgraduate course you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. For example, if you are currently studying for an MPhil you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue a PhD. Current Gates Cambridge Scholars may also apply for a second scholarship if they are applying for a new degree. All current Cambridge students will be considered the second, international round. However, if you have already started a course (e.g. you are currently part way through a PhD) you cannot apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to fund the remainder of it.

General funding at Cambridge

Whether or not you are eligible for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you may be eligible for other funding offered by the University of Cambridge. See www.student-funding.cam.ac.uk for more details.

Courses which Gates Cambridge does NOT consider:

Any Undergraduate degree, such as BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA)
Business Doctorate (BusD)
Master of Business (MBA)
Master of Finance (MFin)
MASt courses
PGCE
MBBChir Clinical Studies
MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time, Home students only)
Graduate Course in Medicine (A101)
Part-time degrees other than the PhD
Non-degree courses

What we are looking for

Our Scholars come from diverse backgrounds and each brings something unique to the programme. We use four criteria to select them.

Academic excellence

To be competitive for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship candidates must show evidence of academic excellence (through their transcripts, references, experience and the potential to succeed on the chosen course). Academic departments at the University of Cambridge nominate only the most academically outstanding applicants for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which ensures that those whom we select will thrive at Cambridge.

Reasons for choice of course

You should be able to make a strong case for a particular postgraduate degree at Cambridge. PhD applicants (and most research MPhil applicants) will need to make contact with a potential supervisor with whom they will develop a research project, a summary of which is part of the application. You will need to demonstrate that you have the academic background and the necessary skills and expertise to complete the course. Taught MPhil and other applicants need to make a strong case for how completing the proposed course will facilitate their career plans. Gates Cambridge seeks Scholars who will have an academically transformative experience at Cambridge, so it is important that you fully research and justify the course for which you are applying.

A commitment to improving the lives of others

A defining characteristic of the Gates Cambridge programme is the commitment of our Scholars to improving the lives of others. We interpret this criterion broadly and applicants define it themselves by providing evidence of their past, current and future commitment to the societies in which they will live and work.

A capacity for leadership

Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate a capacity for leadership, which can be expressed in a multitude of ways. Applicants should provide evidence of their leadership experience to date and indicate the ways in which their leadership skills may have impact in the future careers.

A note on the ratio of PhD:Masters awards

In order to create and sustain a viable Scholar community in Cambridge University and for Scholars to take full advantage of their time in Cambridge, we aim to select approximately 2/3 PhD scholars each year. Those applying for taught Masters should pay special attention to explaining why this is the optimal course for them and how it is critical to their future academic or professional training plans.

Applications for entry in the academic year 2024-25 will open again in September 2023.

Gates Cambridge manages two selection rounds each year; full details are below.

If after reading the details below you are not sure in which round you should apply please email info@gatescambridge.org with details.

Whether or not you are eligible for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you may be eligible for other funding offered by the University of Cambridge. See www.student-funding.cam.ac.uk for more details.

US citizens resident in the USA

This is the earlier round for applicants who are both US citizens and currently resident in the United States; it is specific to Gates Cambridge. Students meeting these criteria must apply by 11 October and submit all their documents by this date (including references), they are not eligible for the later round. US citizens who are studying/working overseas at the time of application should apply in the later round (see below).

What stage?	Date
Applications open*	Monday 4 September 2023
Application deadline	Wednesday 11 October 2023 (Time 12:00, noon in local US time zone)
Departmental ranking	Monday 16 October 2023 to Thursday 16 November 2023
All applicants notified of application outcome	by Monday 11 December 2023
Review and selection by panels	Friday 26 January and Saturday 27 January 2024
Scholarships offered	by Friday 2 February 2024
Scholarships accepted	72 hours after offer

All other eligible applicants

The large majority of applicants will apply in this round, which is aligned with the University’s postgraduate funding competition. There are two possible application deadlines and these are based on the course to which you are applying. Please apply by the Course Funding Deadline referenced in the University Course Directory (found in the column on the right of the web page). All application documents should be submitted by 23:59pm (midnight) UK time on the stated date.

What stage?	Date
Applications open*	Monday 4 September 2023
Application deadline*	Dependent on your course – either 5 December 2023 or 4 January 2024 (see Course Directory)
Departmental ranking	December – February
All applicants notified of application outcome	by Monday 4 March 2024
Review and selection by panels	Monday 25 March 2024 and Tuesday 26 March 2024 (TBC)
Scholarships offered	by Friday 29 March
Scholarships accepted	72 hours after offer

*These dates are set by the University of Cambridge postgraduate admissions office and may be subject to change. Please refer to the postgraduate admissions web pages for up-to-date details.

More info: Official link

September 5, 2023 0 comments

Fellowships, Studentship & Scholarships Grants and Funding Opportunities International Jobs & Opportunities Opportunities by Region Public Health Opportunities Public Health Opportunity

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS)

by Public Health Update September 5, 2023

written by Public Health Update

Background

Established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong in 2009, the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) aims at attracting the best and brightest students in the world to pursue their PhD studies in Hong Kong’s universities.

Eligibility

Candidates who are seeking admission as new full time PhD students in the following eight universities, irrespective of their country of origin, prior work experience and ethnic background, should be eligible to apply.

City University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Baptist University
Lingnan University
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Education University of Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The University of Hong Kong

Applicants should demonstrate outstanding qualities of academic performance, research ability / potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities.

Fellowship Award

The Fellowship provides an annual stipend of HK$331,200 (approximately US$42,460) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$13,800 (approximately US$1,760) per year for each awardee for a period up to three years. 300 PhD Fellowships will be awarded in the 2024/25 academic year*. For awardees who need more than three years to complete the PhD degree, additional support may be provided by the chosen universities. For details, please contact the universities concerned directly.

* Universities in Hong Kong normally start their academic year in September.

Selection Panel

Shortlisted applications, subject to their areas of studies, will be reviewed by one of the following two Selection Panels comprising experts in the relevant board areas:

Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Technology
Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Studies

Selection Criteria

While candidates’ academic excellence is of primary consideration, the Selection Panels will take into account factors as follows:

Academic excellence;
Research ability and potential;
Communication and interpersonal skills; and
Leadership abilities.

How to apply?

Eligible candidates should first make an Initial Application online through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme Electronic System (HKPFSES) to obtain an HKPFS Reference Number by 1 December 2023 at Hong Kong Time 12:00:00 before submitting applications for PhD admission to their desired universities.

Applicants may choose up to two programmes / departments at one or two universities for PhD study under HKPFS 2024/25. They should comply with the admission requirements of their selected universities and programmes. As the deadlines for applications to some of the universities may immediately follow that of the Initial Application, candidates should submit initial applications as early as possible to ensure that they have sufficient time to submit applications to universities.

Step 1: Submit Initial Application to Research Grants CouncilOpen for applications: 1 September 2023 at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time.

Step 2: Submit Full Applications to Proposed Universities

After completing an initial application, applicants should submit full applications for their selected PhD programmes to the proposed universities quoting their HKPFS Reference Number before universities’ respective deadlines. As regards programme information, requirements for PhD admission, application methods, regulations and policy of individual universities, please refer to individual universities and PhD programmes for information.

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Human Resource for Health National Plan, Policy & Guidelines Research & Publication

Human Resources for Health (HRH) Projection in Nepal (2079-2087)

by Public Health Update August 31, 2023

written by Public Health Update

The Medical Education Commission published its report on Nepal’s Human Resources for Health (HRH) Projection for the years 2079 to 2087.

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National Human Resources for Health (HRH) Strategy 2021-2030, Nepal

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Public Health Opportunity! Explore world's trending global health opportunities! Visit us for latest public health opportunities.

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Call for experts for the Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG)

by Public Health Update August 26, 2023

written by Public Health Update

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members one of the Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG). This “call for experts” provides information about the advisory group in question, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection.

Background

The scale-up of malaria control efforts, coupled with major investments in malaria research, has produced impressive public health impact in a number of countries. Although progress has recently stalled, the development of new tools and strategies to further accelerate progress have highlighted a growing need for WHO to rapidly review increasing amounts of evidence and update technical recommendations.

The MPAG – formerly called Malaria Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC) – was established following an extensive review of the policy-setting process for malaria control and elimination, initiated by the Global Malaria Programme. The process was conducted with the help of a specially convened external advisory group who reviewed previous and existing departmental policy processes and successful policy models from other WHO departments. It was this group that proposed the concept and architecture of a permanent strategic advisory body. The MPAG’s inaugural meeting was held in January 2012.

Functions of the MPAG

The MPAG was established in 2011 to provide independent advice to WHO to enhance the control and elimination of malaria. An independent advisory group bringing together the world’s foremost experts on malaria, the MPAG provides strategic advice and technical input to WHO, and extends to all aspects of malaria control and elimination, as part of a transparent, responsive and credible process. The MPAG advises the WHO Director-General and the Global Malaria Programme (GMP) specifically on:

appropriate malaria policies and standards based on data from malaria programme implementation by Member States and malaria control partners as well as reviews of the best available evidence;
engagement of WHO in malaria-related initiatives;
major issues and challenges to achieving global malaria goals; and
identification of priority activities to address identified challenges.

Operations of the MPAG

The MPAG is an expert group comprised of 16 members. It is currently chaired by Professor Dyann Wirth, Richard Pearson Strong Professor of Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health.

MPAG members serve in an independent and personal capacity and represent a broad range of disciplines, expertise, and experience encompassing many aspects of malaria control and elimination. They are malariologists with a broad view of the interplay between scientific, political, economic and financial considerations. Members of MPAG, including the Chairperson, have been appointed to serve for an initial term of up to 4 years, renewable once, for an additional period of up to 4 years.

MPAG members are expected to meet annually at least two times (virtually or in person) at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, usually for 2-3 days each time. Interim teleconferences may be required of the members. The working language of the group will be English.

Prior to being appointed as MPAG members and prior to renewal of term, nominees are subject to conflict of interest assessment by WHO based on information they have disclosed on the WHO Declaration of Interest (DOI) form. In addition, MPAG members have an ongoing obligation throughout their tenure to inform WHO of any changes to the information they have disclosed on the DOI form. Summaries of relevant disclosed interests that may be perceived to give rise to real or apparent conflicts of interest are noted in MPAG reports and are made public as appropriate.

Who can express interest?

The MPAG is multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to malaria control and elimination.

WHO welcomes expressions of interest from relevant technical experts (scientists, healthcare professionals, and healthcare regulators) involved in the control and elimination of malaria with expertise the following areas:

epidemiology;
malariology;
maternal, paediatric and international public health;
pharmacology and internal medicine;
parasitology, tropical and infectious diseases;
immunology and vaccinology;
safety and pharmacovigilance;
health systems, economics and financing;
surveillance, monitoring and evaluation;
vector control and biology;
laboratory, social and behavioral sciences;
health communication.

Individuals from member states of EMRO, SEARO and WPRO and women are particularly encouraged to submit an application.

MPAG has ongoing member rotation, with members nominated following an open call. It is anticipated that between 2 to 5 new members will be selected annually to become members of the group, allowing a phased transition of the group membership. Selection of members following the call is outlined in the MPAG Terms of Reference.

Submitting your expression of interest

To register your interest in being considered for the Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG), please submit the following documents by 21 September 2023 24:00h (midnight) CET Geneva time to mpag@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the MPAG:

A cover letter, indicating your motivation to apply and how you satisfy the selection criteria. Please note that, if selected, membership will be in a personal capacity. Therefore do not use the letterhead or other identification of your employer);
Your curriculum vitae; and
A signed and completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form for WHO Experts, available at https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest.

After submission, your expression of interest will be reviewed by WHO. Due to an expected high volume of interest, only selected individuals will be informed.

Important information about the selection processes and conditions of appointment

Members of WHO advisory groups (AGs) must be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. To this end, applicants are required to complete the WHO Declaration of Interests for WHO Experts, and the selection as a member of a AG is, amongst other things, dependent on WHO determining that there is no conflict of interest or that any identified conflicts could be appropriately managed (in addition to WHO’s evaluation of an applicant’s experience, expertise and motivation and other criteria).

All AG members will serve in their individual expert capacity and shall not represent any governments, any commercial industries or entities, any research, academic or civil society organizations, or any other bodies, entities, institutions or organizations. They are expected to fully comply with the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts (https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest). AG members will be expected to sign and return a completed confidentiality undertaking prior to the beginning of the first meeting.

At any point during the selection process, telephone interviews may be scheduled between an applicant and the WHO Secretariat to enable WHO to ask questions relating to the applicant’s experience and expertise and/or to assess whether the applicant meets the criteria for membership in the relevant AG.

The selection of members of the AGs will be made by WHO in its sole discretion, taking into account the following (non-exclusive) criteria: relevant technical expertise; experience in international and country policy work; communication skills; and ability to work constructively with people from different cultural backgrounds and orientations .The selection of AG members will also take account of the need for diverse perspectives from different regions, especially from low and middle-income countries, and for gender balance.

If selected by WHO, proposed members will be sent an invitation letter and a Memorandum of Agreement. Appointment as a member of a AG will be subject to the proposed member returning to WHO the countersigned copy of these two documents.

WHO reserves the right to accept or reject any expression of interest , to annul the open call process and reject all expressions of interest at any time without incurring any liability to the affected applicant or applicants and without any obligation to inform the affected applicant or applicants of the grounds for WHO’s action. WHO may also decide, at any time, not to proceed with the establishment of the AG, disband an existing TAG or modify the work of the AG.

WHO shall not in any way be obliged to reveal, or discuss with any applicant, how an expression of interest was assessed, or to provide any other information relating to the evaluation/selection process or to state the reasons for not choosing a member.

WHO may publish the names and a short biography of the selected individuals on the WHO internet.

AG members will not be remunerated for their services in relation to the AG or otherwise. Travel and accommodation expenses of AG members to participate in AG meetings will be covered by WHO in accordance with its applicable policies, rules and procedures.

The appointment will be limited in time as indicated in the letter of appointment.

If you have any questions about this “Call for experts”, please write to mpag@who.int well before the applicable deadline. Deadline: 21 September 2023.

August 26, 2023 0 comments

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Overview

Eligibility

Courses

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Eligibility Criteria

Scholarship amount

Deadline

Selection criteria

How to apply

Funding

Overview

Funding

Who can apply?

What we are looking for

Academic excellence

Reasons for choice of course

A commitment to improving the lives of others

A capacity for leadership

A note on the ratio of PhD:Masters awards

US citizens resident in the USA

All other eligible applicants

Background

Eligibility

Fellowship Award

Selection Panel

Selection Criteria

Background

Functions of the MPAG

Operations of the MPAG

Who can express interest?

Submitting your expression of interest

Important information about the selection processes and conditions of appointment

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