Dr. Ali Mehdi is a noted health policy expert and economist associated with the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), where he has served as a senior fellow and led the institute’s Health Policy Initiative, a pioneering platform focused on strengthening evidence-based policymaking in health and development. With over a decade of multidisciplinary research experience, he has worked extensively on the design, governance, and evaluation of health systems, with a strong focus on universal health coverage, prevention of chronic diseases, health financing, demographic trends, drug regulation, and the social determinants of health. His work reflects a deep commitment to advancing equitable, sustainable, and resilient public health frameworks in India and across global contexts.

Dr. Mehdi has collaborated closely with national and international stakeholders, including governments, multilateral agencies, academia, and industry, conducting policy research across numerous Indian states and multiple countries to derive comparative insights for reform and innovation in healthcare delivery. He has contributed to several influential publications, policy reports, and books that examine complex issues such as health inequities, demographic change, regulatory frameworks, and the intersection of public health with economic development and social justice.

Academically trained in Germany, he completed his master’s degree at the University of Freiburg and earned his PhD from Humboldt University in Berlin, bringing a strong interdisciplinary perspective to policy research and analysis. Beyond institutional research, he is also a prolific writer and public intellectual, regularly contributing to leading national publications and participating in public policy dialogues and forums.