African Development Bank Group (AfDB) -  the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. 

POSITION : Principal Occupational Health Service (OHS) Officer

The Hiring Department

• The overall objective of the Medical and Occupational Health Services Unit is to make the Bank an employer of choice by providing staff members with the most conducive and healthy working environment. Its mission is to drive the transformation of the Medical and Occupational Health Services offered by the Bank and enhancing health promotion, prevention strategies and comprehensive interventions in an effort to protect, preserve and promote the health and well-being of all Staff members - healthy lifestyles for all.
• Specifically, the Unit seeks to ensure proper application of the Bank’s policies, instructions and procedures on matters of staff health and well-being; formulate health and welfare policies that are consistent with best practices in healthcare in the workplace; and ensure the administration and provision of quality medical care to Bank’s staff and their dependents; facilitate a healthy working environment for staff through the observance of best practices in health and well-being.

The Unit is composed of four focal areas:

• The Staff Medical Benefits Plan introduced in 2003, is one of the Bank Group’s most valuable benefits, providing worldwide comprehensive medical coverage to eligible staff, elected officers, retirees, and their eligible dependents.
• The Plan also helps staff and retirees to meet the financial impact of obtaining quality health care coverage for themselves and their eligible dependents. Specifically, the Plan seeks to (i) provide access to quality and timely health services for the Bank staff and their dependents; (ii) carry out integrated healthcare management programs such as health promotion and disease prevention; (iii) establish and consolidate the information flow between the Plan and beneficiaries, to ensure there is full awareness of entitlements, procedures, caps, ceilings, complaints procedures, authorizations for special payment arrangements; (iv) develop major communication campaign strategy to promote ownership of the Plan and encourage members to exercise discipline in incurring medical expenses.
• The Medical Center offers consultation and advice, referrals, pre-employment medicals, annual checkups, community care, and health education programs. Specifically, the Center manages primary health care and first interventions in Medical emergencies and evacuations, and retort in front of epidemics.
• The Center manages the decentralization of health services at the regional level and fosters strategic partnerships with sister Institutions. The Center also provides integrated clinical services, including Therapeutic Education, Computerization of the patient medical record audits of the clinical services (performances) Evaluation and extension of the health networks Periodic medical Balance sheets (Assessments).
• Occupational health and safety: This concerns the overall improvement of working conditions, and the well-being of employees in order to contribute positively to Bank’s productivity. The primary purpose of the Bank’s OHS framework is to ensure that the Bank provides staff with highest standards for a conducive, safe and healthy working environment. This includes the inspection and regular monitoring of the buildings and equipment (ergonomic chairs, and key board, computer screens, noise and light hazards, etc. The safety and well-being of all staff in the workplace must be guaranteed/convenient while inculcating in staff that it is their responsibility to maintain a safe working environment.
• Welfare services: In line with the Bank’s new vision of changing the way we do business, the Unit is revamping the Welfare services and activities to listen; inform; advise and work with staff members in order to (i) Work closely with the Bank Recourse Mechanism Units, the Staff Council, and other staff groups and the Board Members and Senior Management; (ii) Provide solution and assist Staff through coaching and counseling services; (iii) Manage the resolution of conflicts, working through and with others to affect mutually acceptable solutions, by using highly developed interpersonal skills; (iv) Promote Work-life Balance to maintain a healthy body and mind such as sports, social program and activities within and outside the Bank; (v) Promote the family friendly policies that include remote working and flexible working hours; maternity and paternity leaves; sick leave management, etc.

The Position

• Provides medical consultations and arrange for referrals to appropriate hospitals or specialists when required and ensure on-site emergency medical interventions.

Responsibilities

Policies and Procedures:

• Prepare regular reports for Management and assist in studies, research and observations relevant to the general health of the staff.
• Serve as a medical advisor to the Staff Medical Benefits Plan and Medical Plan Board.
• Examine requests by staff for certain types of medical procedures and provide advice.
• Control, monitor and maintain medical records of staff and sick leave.
• Perform pre-employment and periodic health assessments. Determine, as a result of health assessment, the staff member/candidate's medical fitness for employment and/field office assignment according to sound medical judgment as well as Bank policies and procedures.
• Develop Bank policies, guidelines and procedures relating to health issues.
• Provide guidance for Bank medical evacuation system. Analyze and determine the necessity for medical evacuation, present cases to the Medical Evacuation Committee, write reports and monitor evacuees’ progress.

Provision of quality medical care:

• Assist and cooperate in the evaluation and establishment of appropriate preventive and health promotion programs, taking into consideration the unique needs of the Bank and its multicultural staff and development activities.
• Arrange purchase of emergency medications, medical equipment and accessories required for maintenance of the Medical Center.
• Refer staff members to appropriate specialists as medically indicated.
• Record the results of all medical encounters in a computerized medical information system.
• Recommend further examinations and/or laboratory tests in keeping with sound medical judgment.
• Provide medical consultations and arrange for referral to appropriate hospitals or specialists when required.
• Coordinate vaccination and immunization of all staff members.
• Provide on-site emergency medical interventions.
• Provide travel medicine advice.
• Serve as primary medical policy liaison for the Medical Benefits Plan and maintain close collaboration with the Bank’s external health service providers and Third Party health insurance organisations/administrators.

Emergency Preparedness and Response:

• Provide basic emergency care for injuries or ‘ailments of a sudden nature occurring on Bank premises.
• Respond to the nurses' requests on the proper care and disposition of a medical emergency.
• Arrange for appropriate referral to hospitals or specialists when necessary.

Advisory Functions:

• Inform the Head of Unit of the Medical & Occupational Health Services of actual or suspected trends in staff members' health that might suggest the existence of unhealthy environmental conditions.
• Assist in studies, research and observations relevant to the general health of the staff.
• Assist and cooperates in the evaluation and establishment of appropriate preventive and health promotion programs, taking into consideration the unique needs of the Bank Group and its multicultural staffs.

 Supervision Functions:

• Assist the Chief Medical Officer in providing guidance and mentoring of the Medical team.

Selection Criteria

• Ability to initiate and manage innovations and changes.
• Ability to solve problems and execute on initiatives.
• Ability to work collaboratively internally and externally.
• Self-assured and results oriented.
• Skilled in interpreting and adapting scientific clinical information for practical training and field application.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French, preferably with a working knowledge of the other language.
• Competence with standard MS Office software.
• Hold at least a Doctorate or equivalent degree in Medicine.
• Have a minimum of six (6) years professional post-residency experience in direct patient care.
• Having private sector experience will be an added advantage.
• Certification from accredited Board of Medical Specialties in his/her respective specialty is desirable.
• A current unrestricted license to practice medicine everywhere in the world is desirable.
• Knowledge of managed healthcare systems, medical quality assurance, quality improvement and risk management.
• Strategic and innovative thinker with proven ability to communicate a vision and drive results.
• Demonstrated management, organizational and interpersonal skills Experience and demonstrated successful leadership of case management, disease management and/or population health programs.
• Demonstrated ability to assess business needs, design and implement programs and evaluate results.