I. Introduction
Post-MA Contraception (PMAC) is a research and implementation project that seeks to develop scalable, evidence-based interventions to increase uptake and continuation rates of contraception for women and adolescent girls who self-manage their abortions with medical abortion (MA) pills that have been obtained from a pharmacy. The project is implemented in Nakuru County, where Ipas works with Nakuru County Department of Health, Population Council, Ask NIVI and a Technical Advisory Group. Through an adaptive learning approach, the PMAC project has tested multiple interventions and identified a provider support model as a desirable and scalable intervention for improving contraceptive access through the pharmacy channel. The intervention focuses on improving the quality of care that a woman receives at a pharmacy and aims to build a solid business for pharmacies to provide post-MA contraceptive counseling and services regularly and reliably. When business ventures and the delivery of health services intersection, ‘business for health’ models aim to support people’s overall health and wellbeing while also contributing to the growth and sustainability of health-focused businesses. For PMAC, we seek to develop a business for health model to build the case for regular and reliable service delivery of contraceptives through pharmacy channels.
II. Background
Pharmacy outlets offer a distinctive chance to increase the availability of and access to contraceptives due to their strategic location in the community. Furthermore, they are often the initial point of contact for individuals seeking primary healthcare, particularly for those who rely on self-payment for medical expenses. Unlike health facilities that have providers trained to provide comprehensive contraceptive counseling and care, pharmacist training typically only covers drug composition and dispensing. Pharmacy-based contraceptive services may not offer sufficient contraceptive counselling and wide-ranging method options, limiting the ability of women and girls to make informed choices. Pharmacists often prioritize profitability and may struggle to dedicate sufficient time to counseling and to ensure privacy during client encounters. Additionally, many clients seeking services in a pharmacy prioritize quick services over detailed and lengthy engagement, thereby further complicating how pharmacists navigate contraceptive service delivery.
The PMAC project takes a market-driven approach to enhance the standard of care and strengthen business operations for pharmacies in Nakuru County. Our approach targets key market functions in the private sector contraceptive market to ensure the long-term effectiveness of PMAC interventions and the reliable provision of high-quality services. To strengthen the supply function, the project has provided training to 34 pharmacists on pharmacy-based contraceptive services and supports routine technical assistance to institutionalize systems for quality pharmacy-based care. The project provides partnering pharmacies with seed stock commodities to increase profitability. Furthermore, the project partners with askNivi to implement strategies for generating demand, such as information dissemination, improved referrals to pharmacies, and establishing a network of providers to offer a wider range of contraceptive options. These endeavors aim to establish a sustainable business model that maximizes the role of pharmacies in providing high-quality contraceptive services.
III. Period of Performance: The Period of Performance for Deliverables 1-3 is May , 2024-July 31, 2024.Once Ipas receives an amendment to extend the end date of our award from the donor, we plan to amend this consultant agreement to extend the Period of Performance until January 31, 2025, and to include deliverables 4-5.
IV. Place of performance: Nakuru, Kenya
V. Scope of work
Ipas seeks a consultant to develop a business for health model for sustainable scalability of contraceptive services through pharmacy channels. The model will adopt a market-driven approach integrating both pharmacy-based supply and demand interventions implemented by Ipas and PMAC partners in Nakuru County to build sustainable pharmacy-based quality contraceptive services. The consultancy will be implemented in two phases: In the initial phase (May to July 31, 2024), the consultant will gather business operational data from pharmacies and conduct an analysis, examining how key project activities correlate with the business abilities of individual pharmacists in Nakuru County. By evaluating the ongoing technical support provided to intervention pharmacies, as well as the potential new business prospects facilitated by askNivi referrals and the referrals within the PMAC provider network, the consultant will calculate the average growth rate for participating pharmacy businesses. This data will be essential in creating a business for the health model for the pharmacy-based contraceptive market.
In the second phase (August 2024-January 2025, and contingent to the approval of no-cost extension and satisfactory work during phase one), the consultant will play a pivotal role in collecting, assessing, and appraising monthly data on the pharmacy’s sustainable business practices and measuring the resulting business growth. This will include areas such as client retention strategies, marketing initiatives, efficient inventory management, and reinvesting profits from the initial seed commodities back into the pharmacy business. Also during the second phase, the consultant will regularly assess emerging market-driven demand and supply strategies that might improve pharmacies’ sustainable business practices and drive its growth in the delivery of pharmacy-based contraceptive services
The following activities are anticipated to be part of the scope of work:
- Conduct a literature review of the business case for contraceptive services delivered in the pharmacy channel
- Develop data collection tools and a data collection plan for the engagement period (including outcomes and indicators)
- Visit 34 partnering pharmacies in Nakuru County for initial data collection effort
- Analysis and use of data (from pharmacists, Ipas and PMAC partners) to inform the development of a ‘business for health model’ for the pharmacy channel
- Repeat visits to 34 partnering pharmacists for additional data collection efforts during the period of engagement
- Create recommended business strategies for long-term sustainability and growth of pharmacy-based contraceptive services.
- Other activities as identified by consultant or Ipas during finalization of consultant contract.
VI. Technical Requirements:
For effective delivery of the scope, the consultant must possess the following minimum requirements:
- Possess Ph.D. in Economics /Health Economics
- Experience in health financing for SRH interventions, especially contraceptive services.
- Experience in conducting economic or business case evaluations.
- Experience in developing business for health models for private health sector.
VII. Reporting
The consultant will submit quarterly reports on the progress of each milestone. Additionally, the consultant will engage with the Ipas project team every week to explore emerging trends based on the pharmacy data as well as review emerging pharmacy demand and supply strategies that could potentially drive business growth.
VIII. Key Deliverables
| Phase 1 DELIVERABLEs | |
| 1 | Submit a desk review report on the business case for contraceptive services in the pharmacy channel. |
| 2 | Submit an insight report based on the data gathered from 34 participating pharmacies, Ipas, and PMAC partners to support the development of a business case model. |
| 3 | Submit a detailed pharmacy-based business for health model, outlining the data collection tools and a data collection plan for the duration of the engagement, as well as success indicators and potential outcomes. |
| Phase 2 DELIVERABLEs | |
| 4 | Monthly pharmacy business trend analysis reports for the 34 pharmacies resulting from the implementation of business strategies supported by Ipas. |
| 5 | Report on actionable business strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of pharmacy-based contraceptive services. |
Technical proposal should be sent on email by 19th April 2024 to Africa Alliance Procurement
[email protected] , CC [email protected]