SAEDNEWS: Born in Kashan on June 14, 1958, pharmacist‑turned‑politician Saeed Namaki secured a vote of confidence on February 4, 2019, to lead Iran’s Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education.
Name: Saeed
Surname: Namaki
Date of Birth: 24 Tir 1337 SH (July 15, 1958)
Education: PhD in Pharmacy
Current Position: None
Saeed Namaki was born on 24 Khordad 1337 SH (June 14, 1958) in Kashan. From primary school through high school, he was a top student and often served as the class mediator, ensuring order and focus. At age twelve, he began composing poetry—work that later appeared in two collections, Dream of the Water Lily and Dream of the Breeze. During his secondary education, he joined the school theatre troupe and developed a strong passion for music. Though he initially considered studying literature, he ultimately chose to pursue pharmacy.
Saeed Namaki earned his doctorate in pharmacy from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
Saeed Namaki has been married for many years and is currently a family man.
Public records on Saeed Namaki’s children are limited. One son, Ali Namaki, holds a PhD in finance and currently sits on the board of Amin Capital Investment Company. He also serves as Director General of the Reserves and Investment Affairs Office at the Social Security Organization.
Saeed Namaki began his tenure in the Ministry of Health as acting minister from 3 January to 4 February 2019, before winning parliamentary approval—garnering 229 votes on 4 February 2019—to lead the full ministry. A pharmacy graduate of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, he holds an associate professorship at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.
His career spans roles as Deputy at the Plan and Budget Organization, member of the National Health Insurance Research Council, and former Deputy for Natural Environment at the Department of Environment. In 2015, he was appointed Deputy for Social and Public Affairs at the Plan and Budget Organization, having earlier served as Health Deputy to the Minister of Health some 25 years prior. He has also advised former Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar and led several pharmaceutical manufacturing firms, including Tolid Daru.
One of Namaki’s first ministerial actions was to annul a controversial 2018 Health Ministry decision on student transfers and quota allocations—an order that effectively quashed public outcry over preferential admissions.
With the outbreak of COVID‑19, President Hassan Rouhani entrusted him on 23 February 2020 with forming and chairing the National Coronavirus Combat Taskforce, charged with mobilizing all relevant agencies to stem the pandemic.
Namaki has long championed Iran’s electronic health record system—a priority in the Fifth and Sixth Development Plans. As Deputy at the Plan and Budget Organization, he argued that full implementation of e‑records, clinical guidelines, referral systems and family‑physician programs would rationalize health spending. Following his confirmation as minister, he accelerated the rollout, formally launching the national electronic health dossier on 25 June 2019, in a ceremony with President Rouhani.
Saeed Namaki currently holds no official post.
