Zulkarnain Hanafi

Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi is the former Minister of Health in Brunei from 2015 until 2017 and a Vice-Chancellor at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) from 2008 to 2015.

Early life and education Zulkarnain went for his higher education in the United Kingdom. He obtained his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Liverpool and later the FRCSEd (Otolaryngology) from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Lastly, FRCGP (Hons) from the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Career Zulkarnain was a head and neck surgeon and otolaryngologist, who in 2001 was involved in the first cochlear implant surgery on a child in Borneo at, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital.

During the 2015 Bruneian cabinet reshuffle on 22 October, Zulkarnain was sworn in as the minister of health.

For the 2017–18 fiscal year, Zulkarnain's ministry received a budget of B$323.88 million, including $7.77 million for development. Emphasising shared responsibility for health, he proposed consolidating health centres, improving emergency services, and securing international accreditations. To tackle rising non-communicable diseases and obesity, initiatives like promoted active lifestyles, and excise taxes were introduced on unhealthy foods. Collaborating with the Ministry of Education, his ministry implemented school health initiatives, including hygiene campaigns and a traffic light system for healthier canteen food. He also stressed the need for safe alternative medicine, addressing risks from unregulated treatments.

On 1 December 2017, Zulkarnain was dismissed as minister of health in a minor cabinet reshuffle, the first since 2015, and was succeeded by Isham Jaafar, who was sworn in at the palace on 4 December.

Honours Zulkarnain has earned the following honours: