Efficient Health Financing for Universal Coverage

Ferdinando Regalia is the Social Sector Manager at the Inter-American Development Bank, having previously served as Chief of the Social Protection and Health Division (SPH). In this role, he oversaw the development of key lending operations and technical assistance projects in social protection, along with comprehensive analytical studies on poverty, social protection, and health. He has led innovative public-private collaboration initiatives, including the Salud Mesoamérica initiative, the Regional Initiative for the Elimination of Malaria in Latin America, and the Early Childhood Development Innovation Fund. With over 20 years of experience in designing and implementing development programs and policies, Ferdinando has also been a Senior Advisor to the Vice Presidency for Sectors and Knowledge at the IDB, Chief of Economics and Social Policy at UNICEF South Africa, and a social protection specialist and economist at the World Bank's Network on Economics and Poverty Reduction. There, he conducted research on poverty issues and coordinated technical cooperation through the MECOVI program for improving surveys and measuring living conditions in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has published in indexed journals such as Population Studies, Journal of Development Effectiveness, Economics of Education Review, and Journal of Labor Economics, and has authored book chapters on social protection and results-based financing mechanisms. An Italian national, Ferdinando holds a PhD and a Master’s degree in Economics from Pompeu Fabra University.

Katharina Hauck is a Professor in Health Economics at the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Imperial College London and serves as the deputy director of the Jameel Institute. She specializes in the economics of infectious diseases and the economic evaluation of complex public health interventions. Her research interests include the economics of HIV/AIDS, health system strengthening, priority setting, cost-effectiveness analysis, the economic impact of epidemics, and the influence of individual behavior on infectious disease transmission.

Leonardo Arregocés serves as a consultant in health policies at the World Bank, bringing extensive experience in pharmaceutical policy and health technology assessment. After earning his medical degree from Pontificia Javeriana University and doctorate in public health and policy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, he has established himself as a leader in health systems strengthening. His career includes serving as director of Medicines and Health Technologies at Colombia's Ministry of Health and Social Protection, where he led pharmaceutical and health technology policy implementation. His research contributions include significant work on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in Colombia

Mariana Barraza serves as Founding Partner at Blutitude, where she leads initiatives in health technology assessment and medical service evaluation. After earning her economics degree from ITAM and master's in health economics from the University of York, she has established herself as a leading voice in pharmaceutical policy and health systems. Her career spans significant roles including coordinator of the Center for Pharmaceutical Policy Studies at Funsalud, advisor to the Mexican Institute for Social Security, and deputy general director of financing policies at the Ministry of Health. Her contributions include helping shape Mexico's 2003 health reform that created the Seguro Popular system and developing pharmaceutical policy proposals

Ricardo Bitrán serves as Founding Partner and President of Bitrán & Associates, a health economics consulting firm he established in 1995. After earning his civil engineering degree from the University of Chile, MBA in business administration and finance, and doctorate in health economics from Boston University, he has built over 35 years of experience in health systems and financing. His career includes creating the International Health Group at Abt Associates and serving as academic director for the World Bank Institute's Flagship Course on Health Sector Reform. Through his work advising organizations like the World Bank, WHO, Gates Foundation, and numerous governments across 50 countries in Africa, America, and Asia, he continues to influence global health policy. His 25-year academic career includes teaching positions at Boston University, Tufts University, University of Chile, and CIDEF Paris, while authoring numerous publications on health economics and system reform.

Cheryl Cashin serves as Managing Director at Results for Development's global health practice, where she leads over 20 projects focused on strengthening health systems worldwide. After earning her doctorate in economics from the University of Washington, master's in Applied Economics from Cornell University, and undergraduate degree from Bucknell University, she has established herself as a leading expert in health financing policy

Kalipso Chalkidou serves as Director of Health Finance and Economics at the World Health Organization while holding professorships at Imperial College London and Griffith University in Australia. After earning her medical degree from the University of Athens and doctorate in molecular biology from Newcastle University, she has dedicated her career to helping governments build capacity for evidence-based health policy decisions. Her extensive experience includes founding and directing NICE International (2008-2016) and establishing the International Decision Support Initiative to improve evidence-based health spending globally. Through her work with major international organizations, she has influenced healthcare reforms in multiple countries including China, Turkey, Colombia, and the United States. As author of over 100 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, she continues to advance understanding of healthcare resource allocation while supporting countries in their progress toward universal healthcare coverage. Her expertise spans comparative effectiveness research, health technology assessment, and institutional capacity building for evidence-based healthcare policy.

Anthony (Tony) Culyer serves as emeritus professor at the University of York, visiting professor at Imperial College London, and senior research fellow at the University of Toronto's Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation. After earning his economics degree from the University of Exeter and studying at UCLA on a Fulbright scholarship, he has established himself as a founding father of health economics

María Luisa Escobar serves as an independent consultant specializing in health policy innovation and international development, bringing over 20 years of experience in health systems reform and policy. After earning her economics degree from Universidad Externado de Colombia and completing her master's and doctorate in economics, international development, and health from Rice University, she has established herself as a leading voice in health policy reform. Her career includes significant roles as senior health economist at the Inter-American Development Bank, director of policy and planning at Colombia's Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and manager of Health Systems Practice at the World Bank Institute. Through her research at the Brookings Institution and co-editorship of "From Few to Many: Ten Years of Health Insurance Expansion in Colombia," she has advanced understanding of health financing mechanisms while promoting universal health coverage across Latin America

Jaime Espín serves as Professor at the Andalusian School of Public Health, where he specializes in pharmaceutical pricing policies and health technology assessment. After earning his PhD in Economics and law degree from the University of Granada, along with a Master's in Health Economics from EASP, he has established himself as a leading voice in European pharmaceutical policy. His academic journey includes visiting positions at prestigious institutions including Duke University's Fuqua Business School, University of California Santa Barbara, and the University of Chicago. Through his roles as external advisor to the European Commission's High Level Pharmaceutical Forum, member of PAHO's Expert Committee on Pharmaceutical Policies, and the WHO/HAI Project's Pricing Policy Group, he continues to influence international pharmaceutical policy. His significant publications include co-authoring "Differences and Commonalities in Pricing and Reimbursement Systems in Europe" for the European Commission and co-editing PAHO publications on high-cost medicines access and generic drug strategies in Latin America

Manuel Espinoza serves as Associate Professor in Public Health and Head of the Health Technology Assessment Unit at the Center for Clinical Research at Pontificia Catholic University of Chile, while holding positions as Honorary Fellow at York University's Center for Health Economics and Editor-in-chief of Value in Health Regional Issues. After earning his medical degree and Master's in Epidemiology from Pontificia Catholic University of Chile, Master's in Biostatistics from University of Chile, and Master's and PhD in Economics from University of York, he has established himself as a leader in health technology assessment. His research focuses on cost-effectiveness analysis methods and equity considerations in economic evaluation, while conducting applied research on medicines, medical devices, and screening programs. Through his roles as ISPOR board member, president of its Latin America Consortium, and president of ISPOR Chile Chapter, he continues to advance understanding of health coverage decision-making while promoting patient participation in healthcare policy.

Alejandro Gaviria serves as Colombia's Minister of National Education since August 2022, following significant roles as Minister of Health and Social Protection (2012-2018) and Rector of Universidad de los Andes (2019-2021). After earning his Civil Engineering degree from Universidad de Antioquia, Master's in Economics from Universidad de los Andes, and PhD in Economics from UC San Diego, he has established himself as a leading voice in Colombian public policy. His tenure as Health Minister was marked by improving healthcare system sustainability through medicine price regulation and establishing the Institute for Health Technology Assessment. His contributions to academia and public service have earned him numerous accolades, including the Juan Luis Londoño Medal, Simón Bolívar journalism award, and the Order of Boyacá. Through his roles at institutions like the Inter-American Development Bank and his prolific writing career, including six books published by Ariel and regular columns for El Espectador, he continues to influence public policy while advancing educational reform

Ursula Giedion serves as Senior Consultant in Health Economics and coordinator of the CRITERIA Network at the Inter-American Development Bank, while holding a position as non-resident fellow at the Center for Global Development. With over 25 years of experience, she has established herself as a leading voice in health policy and financing across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Her significant contributions include co-editing "Health Benefit Plans in Latin America: A Regional Comparison," which examines how countries design and implement explicit health benefit plans

Amanda Glassman serves as Executive Advisor to the President at the Inter-American Development Bank, where she oversees strategy, research, and global fora engagement, including serving as G20 Sherpa. After earning her Master of Science from Harvard School of Public Health and Bachelor's from Brown University, she has built over 25 years of experience in health and social protection policy. Her career includes significant leadership roles as Executive Vice President and Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development, CEO of CGD Europe, and Principal Technical Lead for Health at IDB, where she designed innovative programs like Salud Mesoamerica 2015. Through her co-authorship of influential books including "What's In, What's Out: Designing Benefits for Universal Health Coverage" and "Millions Saved: New Cases of Proven Success in Global Health," she continues to shape policy on health financing and social protection while advancing evidence-based approaches to development challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Carolina Gómez serves as founder and researcher at the "Medicines, Information and Power" think tank at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where she focuses on pharmaceutical legislation and policy. After earning her law degree from Universidad de los Andes and master's in law from both Universidad de los Andes and UC Berkeley, she has established herself as an expert in pharmaceutical regulation. Her career includes serving as Director of Medicines and Medical Devices at Colombia's Ministry of Health and advisor to both INVIMA's general directorate and the Minister of Health's office. Through her advocacy work on medicine pricing and access, she continues to influence pharmaceutical policy while promoting transparency and equity in Colombia's healthcare system.

Eduardo González-Pier serves as Senior Technical Director of Health Financing at Palladium while leading the UK Prosperity Fund's Better Health Program in Mexico. After earning his PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago, BS in engineering, economics, and mathematics from Washington and Lee University, and MA in economics from Chicago, he has built over 25 years of experience in health and social security sectors

Wolfgang Greiner serves as Professor of Health Economics and Health Management at Bielefeld University's School of Public Health, where he leads major research projects in health economics. After earning his doctorate in economics from the University of Hannover, he has established himself as a leading voice in healthcare evaluation and policy. His significant roles include serving on the German Federal Government's Council of Experts for Health Care Developments since 2010, membership in the EuroQol Group since 1995, and editorship of the European Journal of Health Economics. Through his work as consultant for the European Commission and membership on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), he continues to influence health policy while advancing research in health economics. His achievements have been recognized with numerous awards including the Austrian Prize for Health Economics, University of Hannover Science Prize, and Medvantis Prize for Public Health Research

Javier Guzmán serves as Director of the Global Health Policy Program at the Center for Global Development, bringing 17 years of experience in public health policy and practice. After earning his medical degree from the National University of Colombia, MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, and master's in Health Policy, Planning and Financing from LSHTM and LSE, he has built a career spanning clinical practice, research, and policy making. His leadership roles include serving as Director General of Colombia's Food and Drug Surveillance Institute (INVIMA) and Director of Medicines and Health Technologies at Colombia's Ministry of Health, where he led the modernization of information systems and improved institutional efficiency. Through his work managing health consulting projects in the UK and Australia focused on pharmaceutical policy and systems strengthening, he continues to influence global health policy while advocating for improved health systems in middle-income countries

Robert Klitzman serves as Director of the Masters of Bioethics Program at Columbia University, where he also holds positions as Professor of Psychiatry and member of the Division of Psychiatry, Law, and Ethics. After earning his BA from Princeton University and MD from Yale University, followed by training as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, he has established himself as a leading voice in bioethics and medical ethics

Karl Lauterbach serves as Germany's Federal Minister of Health since December 2021, where he leads the country's most significant healthcare reforms in decades. After earning his medical degree from multiple institutions including RWTH Aachen and University of Texas San Antonio, followed by multiple Harvard degrees including a Master of Public Health, Master of Science, and Doctor of Science in Health Policy and Management, he has established himself as both a distinguished academic and influential policymaker

Alia Luz serves as International Project Coordinator at Thailand's Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP), where she focuses on bilateral and multilateral collaborations to strengthen health technology assessment capabilities. After earning her bachelor's degree in Economics from Bryn Mawr College in 2013 and gaining experience in renewable energy economics through USAID projects in Liberia, she has established herself as an expert in health policy research and economic evaluation. Her work includes analyzing HTA development factors, conducting economic evaluations, and building capacity for evidence generation in low- and middle-income countries. Through her research contributions on topics ranging from universal health coverage to non-communicable disease prevention, she continues to advance understanding of health technology assessment while supporting evidence-based healthcare decision-making across Asia.

Aurelio Mejía serves as Director of Public and Legal Affairs at AFIDRO Colombia, bringing extensive experience in health technology assessment and pharmaceutical policy. After earning his economics degree from University of Antioquia, master's in health economics from University of York, and specialization in Government, Management and Public Affairs from Universidad Externado, he has established himself as a leader in health economics and priority setting. His career includes serving as Director of Medicines at Colombia's Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Director of Regulation at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, and Technical Director at the Institute for Health Technology Assessment (IETS). Through his roles as professor of health economics at Colombian universities and co-editor of Value in Health Regional Issues, he continues to influence health policy while advancing understanding of economic evaluation and technology assessment methodologies.

Ole Norheim serves as Director of Bergen Center for Ethics and Priority Setting and Professor of Medical Ethics at the University of Bergen, while holding an adjunct professorship at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. After earning his medical degree from the University of Bergen and doctorate from the University of Oslo School of Medicine, he has established himself as a leading voice in health ethics and priority setting. His career includes chairing WHO's Consultative Group on Equity and Universal Health Coverage (2012-2014), the Norwegian National Committee on Priority Setting in Health Care (2013-2014), and leading major research initiatives funded by NORAD and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Through his authorship of over 200 peer-reviewed papers in prestigious journals including Nature Medicine, Science, and The Lancet, he continues to advance understanding of health inequality and universal health coverage while serving on influential bodies such as the Lancet Commission on Investing in Health and the Lancet Commission on Sustainability in Healthcare. His recent work through the Bergen Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting focuses on improving health systems and reducing inequality in countries including Ethiopia, Malawi, and Zanzibar.

Veronika Wirtz serves as Professor in the Department of Global Health at Boston University School of Public Health and Director of the WHO Collaborating Center in Pharmaceutical Policy. After earning her pharmacy degree from Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg and master's in Clinical Pharmacy and PhD from the University of London, she has established herself as a leading voice in pharmaceutical policy and health systems strengthening. Her research focuses on medicine access, price analysis, and efficient use of medicines in low- and middle-income countries. Through her co-chairmanship of The Lancet Commission on Essential Medicine Policies (2014-2016) and founding leadership of the Medicines in Public Health Research Group at Mexico's National Institute of Public Health, she continues to influence global pharmaceutical policy. Her recent work includes evaluating surveillance strategies for antimicrobial consumption and refocusing WHO's Essential Medicines List on developing countries' needs. As technical advisor to organizations including WHO, World Bank, and the Gates Foundation, she advances understanding of pharmaceutical policy while publishing extensively in leading journals like The Lancet and BMJ.

Tommy Wilkinson serves as Principal Analyst at New Zealand's Ministry of Health, bringing extensive experience in health technology assessment and pharmaceutical policy. After earning his pharmacy degree from the University of Otago, clinical pharmacy qualifications from the University of Bath, and master's in Health Economics from the University of York, he has established himself as a leading voice in health economics and priority setting. His career spans roles as Therapeutic Group Manager at PHARMAC, where he helped manage New Zealand's pharmaceutical budget through evidence-based decision making

David Watkins serves as Associate Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Department of Global Health at the University of Washington. After earning his BS from Rhodes College, MD from Duke University, and MPH from the University of Washington, he has established himself as a leading voice in health systems strengthening and universal health coverage. His research focuses on using chronic non-communicable diseases as models for assessing and strengthening health systems in low- and middle-income countries, with particular expertise in rheumatic heart disease

Sabine Vogler serves as Head of the Pharmacoeconomics Department at the Austrian Public Health Institute and leads the WHO Collaborating Center for Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies. After earning her commerce degree and doctorate in social and economic sciences from Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, she has established herself as a leading voice in pharmaceutical systems analysis. Her career spans over 25 years of research in pharmaceutical pricing, reimbursement, and policy analysis. Through her founding of the Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Information network in 2005, which now connects 90 authorities from 46 countries, she continues to influence global pharmaceutical policy. As a member of the WHO/HAI Global Pharmaceutical Pricing Group and consultant for international organizations including WHO, OECD, and the European Commission, she advances understanding of medicine pricing and healthcare system efficiency while promoting rational use of medicines through extensive research and publications in leading journals

Yot Teerawattananon serves as founding leader of Thailand's Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP), a semi-autonomous research institute under Thailand's Ministry of Public Health. After earning his medical degree from Chulalongkorn University and PhD in Health Economics from the University of East Anglia, he has established himself as a leading voice in evidence-based healthcare decision making. Through HITAP's work, he has helped inform Thailand's Universal Health Coverage policy decisions on medicines, medical devices, and health promotion programs since 2002

Fatima Suleman serves as Professor and Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Drug Policy and Evidence-Based Practice at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's School of Health Sciences. After earning her pharmacy degrees from the University of Durban-Westville and doctorate from the University of Illinois Chicago, she has established herself as a leading voice in pharmaceutical policy. Her career includes chairing South Africa's National Pricing Committee and serving as Prince Claus Chair at Utrecht University (2016-2018). Through her roles as WHO technical consultant, chair of the WHO advisory group on Cancer Medicines Availability and Affordability, and rapporteur for the WHO Expert Committee on Essential Medicines, she continues to influence global pharmaceutical policy. Her contributions earned her the Distinguished Teachers' Award in 2010, and as a Fulbright Scholar and coordinator of two online master's programs, she advances pharmaceutical education while promoting equitable access to medicines across developing nations.

Peter Smith serves as Emeritus Professor at both Imperial College London and the University of York's Centre for Health Economics, where he focuses on health system performance evaluation and financing. After earning his mathematics degree from the University of Oxford, he has established himself as a leading voice in health economics through work spanning statistics, operational research, and accounting. His career includes serving as Director of the Centre for Health Economics at York and co-founding Imperial College's Center for Health Policy. Through his advisory roles with organizations including WHO, World Bank, IMF, and numerous governments, he continues to influence global health policy while advancing research on universal health coverage and system performance measurement. His academic contributions include 14 books and over 150 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on healthcare financing, performance evaluation, and international health system comparisons. His work has significantly shaped understanding of health system efficiency and resource allocation across both developed and developing countries

Leandro Safatle serves as researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in Brasilia, bringing extensive experience in pharmaceutical market regulation. After earning his economics degree from the University of Brasilia and specialized certifications in public administration from ENAP and Fundação Dom Cabral, he has established himself as a leading voice in drug price regulation. His career includes serving as Executive Secretary of Brazil's Chamber for the Regulation of the Drug Market (CMED) from 2014-2019, where he oversaw pharmaceutical pricing and advised both the Council of State Ministers and ANVISA's executive leadership. Through his previous roles at the Ministry of Health's Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Strategic Supplies, he has shaped national pharmaceutical policy. As consultant to organizations including UNDP, ECLAC, and IDB, he continues to influence market regulation while working to ensure affordable access to medicines across Brazil

Martín Sabignoso serves as senior consultant for Latin America on health financing reforms and member of WHO's Expert Committee for adolescent health strategy implementation. After earning his law degree from the University of Buenos Aires, master's in Business Law from Austral University, and master's in Public Policy Administration from FLACSO, he has established himself as a leading voice in results-based healthcare financing. His career includes serving as National Coordinator of Argentina's Plan Nacer/SUMAR Program, where he led one of the most successful results-based financing initiatives that reduced neonatal mortality by 74% for program beneficiaries

Jong-Su Ryu serves as Professor at Yonsei University's Graduate School of Public Health, where he teaches in the Master of Global Health Security and Health Policy and Financing programs. After earning his master's in social service policies from Fordham University in New York, he has established himself as a leader in global health security and universal health coverage. His career includes serving as commissioner at Korea's National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and secretary-general of UNICEF's Korean Committee. Through his roles advising international institutions like the Joint Learning Network Steering Group and leading Knowledge Sharing Program consultations for Colombia and Peru's national health policies, he continues to influence global health policy while developing capacity-building initiatives for low- and middle-income countries. His current work includes conducting online seminars for government officials worldwide on medical care systems and epidemic preparedness.

Francis Ruiz serves as Senior Policy Analyst at the International Decision Support Initiative (iDSI) and Senior Adviser at Imperial College London's Institute of Global Health Innovation. After earning his physiology degree from University of Dundee, postgraduate diploma in psychology from Royal Holloway, and master's in Health Policy, Planning and Financing from LSHTM and LSE, he has established himself as an expert in health technology assessment. His career includes significant roles at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) across multiple programs and six years in clinical data management and health economics in the pharmaceutical sector. Through his leadership of iDSI's engagement with China and management of health economics knowledge products, he continues to influence global health policy while advancing understanding of technology assessment methodologies.

Adolfo Rubinstein serves as Director of the Center for Implementation and Innovation in Health Policies (CIIPS) at Argentina's Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS). After earning his medical degree from Universidad de Buenos Aires, master's in Clinical Epidemiology from Harvard School of Public Health, diploma in Health Economics from University of York, and doctorate in Public Health from UBA, he has established himself as a leading voice in public health policy

Joan Rovira Forns serves as Associate Professor at the Andalusian School of Public Health and Emeritus Professor at the University of Barcelona's Department of Economic Theory, where he specializes in health economics and pharmaceutical policy. After earning his doctorate in economic sciences, he has established himself as a leading voice in health technology assessment and pharmaceutical economics. His career includes significant roles as Senior Health Economist for Medicines at the World Bank (2001-2004) and Research Director at SOIKOS SL (1988-2006), where he shaped pharmaceutical policy and access strategies. Through his extensive consulting work with organizations including WHO, PAHO, IDB, and various national health ministries, he continues to influence global health policy while advancing understanding of economic evaluation methodologies

Paul Rodríguez-Lesmes serves as Associate Professor at Universidad del Rosario's School of Economics, where he focuses on health economics and policy research. After earning his PhD in Economics from University College London in 2016 and previous degrees from Universidad del Rosario, he has established himself as a leading voice in applied economics research. His work spans health behaviors, chronic disease prevention, pharmaceutical regulation, and labor markets, with over 58 publications in prestigious journals. Through his roles as Latin American representative on the International Health Economics Association Board and regular collaboration with organizations like the Colombian Institute for Health Technology Assessment, he continues to influence health policy while conducting research on topics ranging from tobacco control to healthcare financing. His recent contributions include significant work on plain packaging effectiveness, cost-effectiveness thresholds in healthcare, and the relationship between catastrophic health payments and poverty.

Ferdinando Regalia serves as Chief of the Social Protection and Health Division at the Inter-American Development Bank, where he oversees lending operations and technical assistance projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. After earning his master's and doctorate in economics from Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona, he has built over 20 years of experience in development policy and program implementation. His career includes roles as Principal Advisor to IDB's Vice Presidency for Sectors and Knowledge, Chief of Economics and Social Policy at UNICEF South Africa, and Social Protection Specialist at the World Bank. Through his leadership of innovative initiatives like the Mesoamerica Health Initiative and the Early Childhood Development Innovation Fund, he continues to influence regional development while publishing research in prestigious journals on topics ranging from poverty reduction to results-based financing mechanisms.

Lorena Prieto serves as Professor at both the University of the Pacific and Peruvian University of Applied Sciences' Postgraduate Schools, where she focuses on health economics and financing. After earning her bachelor's in business engineering and economics from the University of Chile, and master's and doctorate in economics from Boston University, she has built a 24-year career in health policy research. Her work includes significant contributions to HIV/AIDS investment optimization in Peru

Diana Pinto serves as Lead Health Specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank's Social Protection and Health Division, where she focuses on health systems and policy research. After earning her medical degree and Master's in Health Administration from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and Doctor of Science in Population and International Health from Harvard University, she has established herself as a leading voice in health economics and policy

Andrés Pichon-Riviere serves as Executive Director and Director of Health Technology Assessment at the Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS) in Argentina, which has been a WHO Collaborating Center since 2013. After earning his medical degree with honors from the University of Buenos Aires and master's in Clinical Epidemiology from Harvard University, he has established himself as a leading voice in health technology assessment across Latin America. His career includes serving as vice-chair of the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (2010-2014) and director of Health Technology Assessment International (2012-2015). Through his leadership at IECS, which produces over 30 HTA reports annually, he has published more than 500 health technology assessment documents and 50 scientific articles. His contributions earned him the Global Health Leadership Award in 2008, and his research on smoking's health burden in Latin America brought IECS a WHO award in 2018. As professor of Public Health at the University of Buenos Aires and coordinator of research projects across 13 Latin American countries, he continues to advance health technology assessment while promoting efficient resource allocation in healthcare systems.

Annette Martin Özaltin (April 4, 1979 - October 21, 2023) served as Program Director and Senior Fellow at Results for Development (R4D), where she made significant contributions to global health systems strengthening. After earning her bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and Master's in Health Care Management from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, she established herself as a leading voice in health financing and systems innovation. Her career included developing widely-used tools like the Costing of Health Services for Provider Payment manual and launching the Primary Health Care Performance Initiative. Through her leadership of the Linked Immunisation Action Network, she supported immunization programs across 25 countries. Her final role included leading the COVIDaction Resilient Health Systems Innovation Challenge, strengthening health systems in Africa and South Asia

Marcella Distrutti has been a health specialist in the Social Protection and Health Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) since 2015, after joining the IDB as a Young Professional in 2013. Prior to joining the IDB, Marcella worked at the Ministry of Health in Brazil, supporting the design and implementation of sexual and reproductive health policies. She also worked as a consultant for organizations such as the World Bank. In 2018, along with other health specialists, she co-authored the book “La priorización en Salud paso a paso: Cómo articulan sus procesos México, Brasil y Colombia.” Marcella holds a master's degree in Health Financing, Planning, and Policy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), as well as a master's in International Development and Economics from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University.