Dr Zaw Wai Soe is an orthopaedic surgeon and Professor who currently serves as the Union Minister for the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education appointed by the National Unity Government of Myanmar. He is the founder of the Spine Surgery and Emergency Medicine in Myanmar. In addition to this, he acts as the main taskforce leader for reforming sixteen medical related universities in Myanmar. He is the former Rector of University of Medicine -1 and served as the chairman of the Myanmar Rector’s Committee till February 2021.

He played a leading role in Myanmar’s COVID-19 fight as the vice chair of COVID-19 Contain, Control and Treating Coordination Committee. Professor Dr Zaw Wai Soe graduated with M.B.B.S from University of Medicine 2, Yangon in 1986. Afterwards he served as a civil assistant surgeon for three years in Myingan District Hospital. After coming back from the United Kingdom in 2000, he worked in the Orthopaedic Department of Yangon General Hospital, Yangon Orthopaedic Hospital and was appointed as Rector of the University of Medicine 2, Yangon in 2014.

On 20 May 2015, Zaw was appointed as Rector of the University of Medicine 1, Yangon. He is one of the key founders of Spine Surgery and Emergency Medicine in Myanmar. In 2019, he became the chairman of the Myanmar Rectors’ Committee. In 2020, he played a leading role in Yangon’s COVID-19 fight and became the vice chair of Yangon Region COVID-19 Contain, Control and Treating Coordination Committee. On 10 February 2021, in the aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d’état,

he was detained for two hours and questioned about his role in the movement. On 2 March 2021, he was appointed by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw as the acting Union Minister for the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health and Sports in its cabinet. On 16 April 2021, he was appointed by the National Unity Government of Myanmar as the Union Minister for the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.