Lead – Medical Device Highway- Integrated Innovation Highway (IIH) Project Ethiopia

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PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges.

In Ethiopia, PATH works closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus, health facilities, communities, local organizations, and development partners to strengthen health systems and expand access to high-quality, equitable health services.

Project Overview

The Integrated Innovation Highway (IIH) is a Gates Foundation-funded initiative supporting the Government of Ethiopia and the Ministry of Health to establish a government-owned platform that systematically identifies health system needs, prioritizes innovations, assesses evidence and readiness, and supports the introduction, transition, and scale-up of innovations within the Ethiopian health system.

The IIH promotes an integrated approach across six innovation highways: medical devices; diagnostics; therapeutics, family planning, and nutrition products; vaccines; technology, including digital health, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology; and bundled and systems innovations.

Phase 1 focuses on AI-enabled point-of-care ultrasound (AI-POCUS) under the Medical Device Highway, alongside near-point-of-care TB PlusLife and Ebola diagnostics under the Diagnostics Highway.

The Medical Device Highway will support government-led assessment, procurement planning, introduction, implementation, and transition-to-scale of priority medical device innovations, with AI-POCUS as a principal initial focus.

A key implementation priority is the coordinated procurement, facility readiness assessment, deployment, and operationalization of 50 obstetric AI-enabled point-of-care ultrasound (OB AI-POCUS) units across selected primary health care units (PHCUs) in Oromia, Sidama, and Somali regions. This will include strengthening facility infrastructure and power readiness, developing a competent workforce, integrating devices into maternal health service-delivery workflows and digital data systems, strengthening referral pathways, and establishing sustainable equipment management and government ownership arrangements.

Position Summary

The Lead – Medical Device Highway will provide national-level technical leadership, coordination, and implementation oversight to support the assessment, procurement, introduction, deployment, implementation, and transition-to-scale of priority medical device innovations under the IIH.

The position will lead the end-to-end implementation of the 50 OB AI-POCUS deployment initiative across selected PHCUs in Oromia, Sidama, and Somali regions, working closely with the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus, health facilities, procurement and supply chain teams, technology providers, manufacturers, clinical experts, and development partners.

The Lead will coordinate procurement planning and technical specifications, facility readiness assessments, deployment planning, installation and commissioning, power and infrastructure readiness, workforce capacity strengthening, clinical mentorship, workflow integration, digital data integration, referral network strengthening, equipment functionality, quality assurance, and implementation learning.

Working with the three Regional Technical Advisors and relevant national technical leads, the position will ensure consistent technical standards and implementation quality while responding to regional and facility-specific needs.

The Lead will also facilitate government and manufacturer engagement, including engagement through the CEO Round Table (CEORT), to support equipment availability, technical assistance, installation, training, maintenance, and transition-to-scale planning.

The position will promote government ownership and integration of successful approaches into routine health services, national and regional plans, procurement and financing mechanisms, equipment management systems, and sustainable maternal health service-delivery models.

Key Responsibilities

Medical Device Highway Technical Leadership and Planning

- Provide technical leadership for planning, coordinating, and implementing the Medical Device Highway in alignment with IIH objectives, MOH priorities, approved work plans.
- Support government-led pathways for identifying, prioritizing, assessing, procuring, introducing, and scaling medical device innovations within the Ethiopian health system.
- Translate national medical device priorities into implementation plans, technical guidance, deliverables, milestones, budgets, and measurable performance indicators.
- Lead the development and coordination of an integrated implementation plan for the deployment and operationalization of 50 OB AI-POCUS units across Oromia, Sidama, and Somali regions.
- Establish and maintain implementation trackers covering procurement, facility readiness, power and infrastructure improvements, equipment delivery, installation, training, clinical integration, data reporting, and referral readiness.
- Monitor implementation progress, identify dependencies and bottlenecks, and coordinate timely corrective actions.

Procurement and Supply Coordination for 50 OB AI-POCUS Units

- Lead technical coordination and planning for the procurement of 50 OB AI-POCUS units in accordance with approved project budgets, PATH policies, and applicable regulatory standards.
- Work with the Ministry of Health, EPSS, RHBs, clinical experts, biomedical engineering and technology providers to define equipment requirements and procurement specifications.
- Coordinate the development and review of technical specifications, including obstetric imaging capabilities, AI-enabled functionality, software and licensing requirements, accessories, portability, power requirements, connectivity, data compatibility, warranties, maintenance, training, and after-sales support.
- Coordinate procurement schedules, delivery plans, equipment distribution arrangements, and regional allocation in alignment with facility readiness and implementation milestones.
- Coordinate with suppliers and manufacturers to confirm equipment availability, delivery timelines, installation support, commissioning requirements, warranty coverage, spare parts, technical troubleshooting, and service-level commitments.

Facility Readiness Assessment and Deployment Planning

- Lead and coordinate comprehensive readiness assessments of 50 selected PHCUs across Oromia, Sidama, and Somali regions in collaboration with the MOH, RHBs, facility leadership, and Regional Technical Advisors.
- Develop standardized facility assessment tools, readiness criteria, scoring approaches, and reporting templates covering infrastructure, power, workforce, clinical services, digital systems, equipment management, and referral arrangements.
- Assess facility readiness factors, including maternal health service availability, patient volume, physical space, privacy, equipment storage, power reliability, connectivity, workforce availability, staff competencies, clinical workflows, data systems, maintenance capacity, and referral access.
- Assess facility-level electricity availability and reliability, including backup power needs, charging arrangements, voltage protection, safe equipment operation, and other context-appropriate power solutions.
- Apply transparent facility selection and deployment criteria based on maternal health needs, equity, service volume, workforce availability, infrastructure readiness, referral access, feasibility, and sustainability.

Workforce Capacity Strengthening, Training, and Clinical Mentorship

- Lead coordination of workforce capacity strengthening for effective, safe, and sustainable use of OB AI-POCUS across the 50 target PHCUs.
- Work with the Ministry of Health, RHBs, academic institutions, professional associations, to identify staffing requirements and define competency-based training and mentorship approaches.
- Assess workforce availability, baseline competencies, training needs, staff deployment patterns, and the availability of designated personnel to operate the equipment.
- Coordinate development or adaptation of training curricula, competency frameworks, job aids, standard operating procedures, and clinical guidance in accordance with approved national protocols and manufacturer requirements.
- Establish a structured clinical mentorship and supportive supervision model involving qualified ultrasound and maternal health professionals, with appropriate regional and facility-level coverage.
- Ensure that training covers appropriate device use, AI-assisted interpretation, clinical judgment, limitations of AI outputs, patient safety, informed consent, privacy, documentation, and referral decisions.

Clinical Workflow Integration, Maternal Health Service Delivery, and Referral Network Strengthening

- Lead coordination of the integration of OB AI-POCUS into routine antenatal care, obstetric assessment, and other approved maternal health service-delivery pathways at the 50 target PHCUs.
- Work with the Ministry of Health, RHBs, clinical experts, facility managers, and health workers to map existing maternal health workflows and identify appropriate points for ultrasound assessment and clinical decision-making.
- Ensure that OB AI-POCUS is used in accordance with approved clinical protocols, intended-use requirements, professional scope of practice, and patient safety standards.
- Coordinate integration of ultrasound findings into maternal health assessment, risk identification, clinical decision-making, and appropriate management or referral pathways.
- Strengthen linkages between PHCUs and designated higher-level facilities to facilitate timely referral, clinical consultation, follow-up, and continuity of care.
- Monitor referral patterns, referral completion, feedback from receiving facilities, and delays that may affect maternal and newborn health outcomes.

Digital Data Integration, Monitoring, and Responsible AI

- Coordinate integration of OB AI-POCUS implementation and service-delivery data into DHIS II.
- Support development of standardized data elements, reporting tools, and workflows for equipment functionality, utilization, examination volumes, training, competency, mentorship, referrals, and service-delivery performance.
- Coordinate integration of relevant information into approved systems, minimizing duplicate data entry and parallel reporting structures.
- Ensure that patient information and AI-generated outputs are handled in accordance with applicable government requirements, data protection standards, ethical principles, and PATH policies.
- Coordinate with relevant technical teams to address software compatibility, data transfer, connectivity, access controls, and other digital integration challenges.
- Use implementation data and feedback to identify underperforming facilities, operational bottlenecks, and opportunities for service improvement.

Equipment Functionality, Quality Assurance, and Lifecycle Management

- Coordinate with Ministry of Health directorates, including PMED and MNCH leadership as applicable, facilities, suppliers, manufacturers, and partners to establish equipment support arrangements.
- Support development of equipment management plans covering preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, calibration or performance checks where applicable, technical troubleshooting, software updates, accessories, warranties, and replacement needs.
- Ensure that designated facility personnel understand equipment handling, charging, storage, cleaning, infection prevention requirements, basic troubleshooting, and procedures for reporting faults.
- Support establishment of asset registers and equipment tracking systems documenting serial numbers, facility location, installation dates, warranty status, maintenance history, and equipment transfers.
- Assess lifecycle costs, including maintenance, software or licensing fees, accessories, repairs, replacement, power, connectivity, and other recurrent operational requirements.
- Identify risks to sustained equipment functionality and recommend mitigation measures, including clear institutional responsibilities and sustainable maintenance arrangements.
- Promote government-led ownership and integration of equipment management into existing health technology management systems.

CEORT and Manufacturer Engagement for Transition-to-Scale

- Coordinate technical engagement with CEORT, the MOH, relevant clinical experts, manufacturers, and technology partners to support equipment readiness, deployment, and transition-to-scale.
- Facilitate coordination with manufacturers and relevant partners on device provision, installation, technical support, training, maintenance, and other agreed implementation commitments.
- Support the development of practical deployment and expansion pathways for AI-POCUS, including collaboration opportunities involving in-kind equipment contributions and financial support where applicable to approved agreements.
- Ensure manufacturer engagement aligns with government priorities, applicable regulatory requirements, procurement rules, conflict-of-interest safeguards, and PATH policies.
- Support government and partner discussions on sustainable equipment access, financing, service support, and expansion beyond the initial 50 PHCUs.

Transition-to-Scale and Sustainability

- Support development of a practical transition-to-scale pathway for OB AI-POCUS and other approved medical device innovations, including institutional ownership, financing, procurement, workforce, maintenance, power, data systems, and referral arrangements.
- Support assessment of the full operational and lifecycle costs of maintaining the 50 OB AI-POCUS units and potential future expansion.
- Identify sustainable financing options for equipment maintenance, power, software, training, mentorship, connectivity, repairs, and replacement.
- Support development of transition arrangements among government institutions, facilities, suppliers, manufacturers, and partners.
- Document evidence, institutional requirements, implementation costs, and lessons learned to inform government-led decisions on further expansion.
- Promote government ownership and sustainable integration rather than the creation of parallel implementation structures.

Qualifications and Experience

Required Qualifications and Experience

- Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Medical Equipment Technology, Clinical Engineering, Health Sciences, Public Health, or a related field.
- Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Public Health, Health Systems Management, Medical Technology, or a related discipline.
- At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in medical device implementation, health technology management, clinical engineering, public health program implementation, or health systems strengthening.
- Experience working with government health institutions, preferably the Federal Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus, and health facilities in Ethiopia.
- Understanding of Ethiopia's health system, decentralized health governance, primary health care structures, and public-sector service-delivery systems.
- Understanding of medical equipment procurement, technical specifications, supplier coordination, equipment lifecycle management, maintenance, and quality assurance.
- Familiarity with digital health systems, health information management, data integration, and responsible use of AI-enabled health technologies is an advantage.
- Strong stakeholder engagement, communication, coordination, problem-solving, and technical reporting skills.
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly to regional and implementation sites.