Francesco Paolucci

Francesco Paolucci is a Professor of Health Economics & Policy at the University of Newcastle (Australia) and the University of Bologna (Italy), and serves as Associate Dean - International at the College of Human and Social Futures. He holds a PhD from Erasmus University. His research focuses on healthcare system reforms, health insurance financing, and global health policy, with an emphasis on equity and efficiency. He has advised governments, including Chile’s Ministry of Health, and contributed to designing universal health plans. Paolucci leads the Value in Health Economics and Policy (VHEP) group and developed health economics programs at multiple universities. He has published over 110 peer-reviewed articles and co-edited special issues on pandemic policy and health system reforms. Awards include the 40 Under 40 Business News Award for entrepreneurial leadership in education. His work integrates academic research with practical policy solutions, addressing challenges in healthcare financing, risk adjustment, and pandemic response.

Key roles include:

• Professor of Health Economics & Policy, University of Newcastle (2014–present)
• Professor of Health Economics & Policy, University of Bologna (2014–present)
• Associate Dean - International, College of Human and Social Futures (2024–present)
• Chief Advisor to Chile’s Ministry of Health on Health Insurance Reform (2018–2019)

Research interests span:

• Health system efficiency and equity
• Risk adjustment in health insurance markets
• Pandemic policy and vaccination strategies
• Global health financing mechanisms
• Educational programs in health policy

Grants and collaborations include:

• Australian Research Council (ARC) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding
• European Commission Horizon 2020 projects
• International partnerships with organizations like the Risk Adjustment Network (RAN)

His contributions extend to:

• Developing the Master of Health Economics, Management, and Policy (HEMP) program
• Coordinating global research initiatives on pandemic policy
• Supervising postgraduate students in health economics and policy

Awards and recognitions highlight his impact in academia and industry, including:

• 40 Under 40 Business News Award (2016)
• Outstanding Business Engagement Research Award (Murdoch University, 2017)

Paolucci’s work emphasizes international knowledge transfer, particularly through comparative studies of health systems in Australia, Italy, Chile, China, and the Netherlands.