Ma Xiaowei

In this Chinese name, the family name is Ma.

Ma Xiaowei (Chinese: 马晓伟; born December 1959) is a Chinese physician and politician who has served as the head of the National Health Commission of China between March 2018 and May 2024.^[2] Ma also served as president of the Chinese Medical Association from 2015 to 2021. He is one of the vice presidents of the Red Cross Society of China.

Ma Xiaowei
马晓伟
Ma in January 2020
Head of the National Health Commission
In office 19 March 2018 – 6 May 2024
Premier	Li Keqiang Li Qiang
Preceded by	New position
Succeeded by	Lei Haichao[1]
President of the Chinese Medical Association
In office December 2015 – May 2021
Preceded by	Chen Zhu
Succeeded by	Zhao Yupei
Personal details
Born	December 1959 (age 65) Wutai County, Shanxi, China
Political party	Chinese Communist Party
Alma mater	China Medical University
Profession	Physician
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	馬曉偉
Simplified Chinese	马晓伟
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Mǎ Xiǎowěi

Biography

Ma was born in Wutai County, Shanxi in December 1959. He is part of the Han ethnic group.^[3]

In April 1978, he was accepted to China Medical University. Upon graduation in December 1982, he was assigned to work at the Ministry of Health. He joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1982.^[4] He became a cadre at the then Ministry of Health before working for China Medical University where he later served as hospital administrator and party secretary.^[5] He also became the director of Liaoning Provincial Health Department.

In October 2001, he was appointed Vice Minister of Health.^[4] When the ministry was reorganized into the National Health and Family Planning Commission, he continued to serve as deputy director. In May 2015 he concurrently served as vice-president of the Red Cross Society of China. On December 15, 2015, he was appointed president of Chinese Medical Association, replacing Chen Zhu.^[6] On 19 March 2018, Ma was appointed head of the National Health Commission at the first session of the 13th National People's Congress.^[7] Ma has been one of the leading figures in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic as well as communication around it.^[8]