Zulkarnain Hanafi

Dato Seri Setia Dr. Haji 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 MBChB from the University of Liverpool and later the FRCSEd (Otolaryngology) from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Lastly, FRCGP (Hon) from the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Medical career
Hanafi is 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 (RIPAS) Hospital.

On 22 October 2015, Hanafi was sworn in as the Minister of Health. For the 2017–18 fiscal year, Zulkarnain's Ministry has been given a budget allocation of B$323.88 million, including B$7,766,900 for development expenses. Hanafi praised the encouraging growth of economic prospects and avenues in the health sector, saying they should be investigated to advance more healthy concepts and advance Brunei's health agenda on 19 November 2017. His tenure concluded after two years, when Hassanal Bolkiah declared his approval for the nomination of Isham Jaafar on 1 December 2017.

Honours
Zulkarnain Hanafi has earned the following honours;
 * BRU Order of Loyalty to the State of Brunei.svg Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class (PSNB; 15 July 2016) – Dato Seri Setia
 * BRU Order of the Crown of Brunei.svg Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB; 15 July 2011) – Dato Paduka
 * Medal for Service to State (Brunei).jpg Excellent Service Medal (PIKB)
 * Medal for Service to State (Brunei).jpg Excellent Service Medal (PIKB)