Medical Doctor (COVID-19 Intervention)

Job Description

Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters and exclusion from healthcare in more than 70 countries. MSF offers assistance to people in need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. MSF has worked in India since 1999, providing free-of-charge essential healthcare to people in remote areas; treatment and care for people affected by HIV/AIDS, malnutrition; hepatitis C, tuberculosis, kala azar and sexual and gender-based violence; an important subject for our action is containing effect of antibiotic resistance. MSF also responds to natural disasters and other emergencies,provides mental healthcare and advocates for the development of more effective and affordable medicines to improve access to treatment everywhere. We currently run projects in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Manipur, and Telangana. MSF was awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development in 1996 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

MSF has been working in Bihar treating kala azar since 2007 with a gradual transition of the project to focus on HIV-kala azar co-infected patients. After treating more than 13,000 patients in Vaishali, MSF began focusing on the treatment of kala azar-HIV co-infection in partnership with the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS) in Patna in 2016. Further, MSF has collaboration with All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna and Bihar State AIDS Control Society (BSACS) with whom MSF is conducting two qualitative studies focusing on perception of quality of life by VL-HIV co-infected patients and the stigma which PLHIV group faces at health facilities and in community. Anecdotal evidence from different sources suggests that there is a very high level of stigma attached with HIV in Bihar. Data collected from health structures show that PLHIV often seek for health services with advanced HIV bearing multiple opportunistic infections and complications. To make the matter worse, these patients do not get adequate and prompt healthcare, this leaves them with no option but succumb to their illness at home. Hence, MSF strives to implement a project for treating life threatening diseases in people living with HIV in Bihar in collaboration with BSACS and Government of Bihar (GoB). This seamless partnership for over more than a decade with the Government of India, the State Government and other stakeholders has enabled MSF to provide best quality of care, free of cost treatment to the people of Bihar without any discrimination on the basis of caste, colour, religion or economic status. The major beneficiaries of MSF services have been the most vulnerable and the most in need. Working in HIV-VL confection, has led us to realise the systematised discrimination against HIV patients by the community and even by health care providers with them often being excluded from healthcare outside of government ART centres. Bihar, with a population of 110 million people is one of the largest states and least economically developed. It has an estimated adult HIV prevalence in the range of 0.21– 0.25% accounting for 150,000 PLHIV and 7,514 deaths (5,794-10,575) annually. By March 2018, 46047 PLHIV were on ART in Bihar, number representing under 50% of all diagnosed PLHIV in the state, this is far from the global goal of having on ART the 90% of all diagnosed as HIV infected. As per July 2017 WHO guidelines for those above 5 years of age, Advanced HIV disease is defined as presenting for care with a CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3 or presenting with an AIDS-defining event, regardless of the CD4 cell count. All children less than 5 years are considered to have Advanced HIV Disease. The mortality rate of advanced HIV disease is estimated to be between 30 to 40%. In Bihar, within MSF´s existing HIV related project we have a number of observed cases bearing severe disease where specialized medical care is required including palliative and end of life care for some among them including psychosocial support for patients and family members. In such situations, where we have tried to refer the patients into the public or private sector, they have been refused admission, ignored, and ultimately sent home to die. COVID-19 : MSF response Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic Doctors Without Borders India (DWBI) is planning to set up a treatment facility in Patna (Bihar state), witht the purpose of treating mild and moderate cases of COVID-19 with some capacity for palliative care, thereby decongesting the current referral hospital (Nalanda Medical College & Hospital) to be able to focus on the severe cases.

Patna, Bihar In the event of a potential emergency situation, be available to work in other states within India and/or the region.

The Medical Doctors will provide outpatient and/or inpatient medical care to patients/beneficiaries according to adapted and updated medical knowledge, MSF protocols, values and universal hygiene standards to improve the patients/beneficiaries health conditions.

Hierarchically and functionally accountable to the Medical Activity Manager.

• Location: Patna, Bihar
• Project: Patna, COVID-19 Intervention
• Availability: 4 months with possible extension
• Last application date: 23rd April 2020
• Starting date: 1^st May 2020
• Email: msfe-delhi-recruitment@barcelona.msf.org AND rhitam.chakraborty@new-delhi.msf.org

• Apply medical knowledge and skills to diagnose and prevention. Carry out outpatient and inpatient consultations, prescribing the necessary treatment respecting MSF protocols.
• Keep the patient and/or his/her family informed about the illness and provide appropriate explanations about the treatment to follow, checking they have understood.
• Follow up the evolution of the hospitalised/IDP patients, through daily visits , consultations and examinations, prescribing the necessary treatment following MSF protocols, deciding whether they can be discharged or transferred to other departments – in collaboration with other doctors- and informing their family about the patient’s evolution.
• Check and control the rational distribution of medicines and equipment under his/her responsibility and take care the quality, disinfection and sterilization of the medical material. Assure general compliance with standing hygiene standards.
• Participate in the collection and analysis of epidemiological data, checking its validity and informing the line manager or project coordinator about any problem or complication of the patients illness, medical error and monitors the proper functioning of the department, equipment or material.
• Ensure ongoing training of the medical/paramedical multidisciplinary team in order to optimise the quality of care.
• Knows and ensures all MSF medical protocols are followed and implemented, checking universal precautions are followed at all times and reducing bio-hazard risks and improving infection control. Ensures professional confidentiality is respected.
• Manage the team under his/her direct responsibility according to MSF HR policies and procedures, supervising their performance, organising and scheduling shifts and rotations, directly participating in emergencies and on calls if necessary.

• In an isolation facility to treat COVID-19 there will be strict rules on infection prevention and control which will mean that patients are not allowed to have their family as caretakers on the ward.
• The Medical Doctors will have to adhere to the strict infection prevention and control guidelines that will be present on the ward in order to ensure that onward transmission of the disease is mitigated.
• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) will be provided to all staff working in the treatment facility and training will be provided to ensure the staffs are able to carry out their daily tasks.
• The Medical Doctor will be reporting to the Medical Activity Manager and will be assigned a group of patients during each shift, working both day shifts and night shifts in the same pattern as the other clinical staff.

The nature of the work requires presence during night shifts, weekends and Public Holidays as per duty roster. Sundays are considered as a weekday. Special arrangements are only considered for official Public Holidays (as per Internal Rules and Regulations).

Only Candidates who are based in Delhi or Patna are eligible to apply for this position. Qualifications

• MBBS degree with full & valid registration from Medical council of India or state medical council.

Work experience

• 2 year experience minimum as a Medical Doctor or in clinical work (can be within medical training).

As this recruitment is for a specific emergency response on COVID-19, it is important that staff only apply for this position if they do not have one of the major risk factors for COVID namely existing cardiac complications, diabetes, hypertension, pregnancy or age > 50 years.

• SALARY: Rupees 85,394 gross/month. NON NEGOTIABLE
• Benefit of 13^th Month Salary.
• PF and Gratuity are applicable as per law.
• TOTAL LEAVES: 18 days annual leave in addition to 12 days, Short Sick/Casual leave (pro-rated based on hire date) plus 12 days Holidays as per specified list of holidays.
• Wide Medical coverage (Employee + Direct Relatives), as per organization policy.
• Accommodation will be provided by DWBI during all the length of the intervention.

To apply please email your CV and motivational letter mentioning why you would be interested to apply for the position with the subject Ref: Medical Doctor to

msfe-delhi-recruitment@barcelona.msf.org

AND

rhitam.chakraborty@new-delhi.msf.org

Applications that are no completed (CV + Covering letter) will not be considered. ONLY SHORT-LISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED AND INVITED FOR INTERVIEW. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders India is an equal opportunity employer. Women candidates are encouraged to apply.