Dr Zubir Ahmed

Who Dr Zubir Ahmed is

Dr Zubir Ahmed is the Labour MP for Glasgow South West, elected on 4 July 2024, and a practising NHS transplant and vascular surgeon who served his clinical career at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. He holds an MB ChB from the University of Glasgow (2005), an MSc in Healthcare from University College London (2012), a PhD in transplantation from King's College London, and an MBA from the University of Strathclyde. He served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Innovation and Safety at the Department of Health and Social Care from 6 September 2025 until his resignation on 12 May 2026. In that role his portfolio covered health innovation, patient safety, clinical trials acceleration, and med-tech development; he is a Fellow of the European Board of Surgery and of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

References for this biography

1. 1.Parliamentary career for Dr Zubir Ahmed – UK Parliament — Confirms MP status, constituency, and role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary (DHSC)
2. 2.Health innovation minister Zubir Ahmed resigns – Digital Health — Establishes appointment date (6 Sep 2025), resignation date (12 May 2026), and reasons for resignation
3. 3.About Me – Zubir Ahmed MP for Glasgow South West (official site) — Confirms surgical career at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow; fellowship credentials
4. 4.Written Statement HLWS1380 – UK Parliament (4 March 2026) — Evidences £47.8m NIHR clinical trials equipment investment announced by Ahmed as minister
5. 5.Government drives forward its 150-day clinical trial target – GOV.UK — Documents clinical trial set-up time reduction from 169 to 122 days under his ministerial watch, and £137m investment
6. 6.Dr Zubir Ahmed – Mace Magazine MP profile — Confirms academic qualifications (MB ChB, MSc, PhD, MBA), surgical background, and fellowship credentials

Notable achievements

• As Health Innovation and Safety Minister, oversaw a £47.8 million NIHR award to 51 NHS Trusts and 79 primary care organisations to fund clinical trial equipment, announced March 2026. Source ↗
• Under his ministerial tenure, average commercial clinical trial set-up times fell from 169 days to 122 days, backed by £137 million investment in health research reforms. Source ↗
• Elected MP for Glasgow South West in July 2024, defeating incumbent SNP MP Chris Stephens with a majority of 3,285 votes. Source ↗
• Resigned as junior health minister on 12 May 2026, citing Labour's poor performance in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election and calling for the Prime Minister to resign. Source ↗

What Dr Zubir Ahmed has said

• “When I am asked to prognosticate as to whether someone has six months to live or not, I am as often wrong as I am right.”

  lawmaker and cancer surgeon · Assisted dying · 29 Sept 2026 · UK Assisted Dying Bill Defeated: Lawmakers Reject England-Wales Plan 286-270 in Commons Vote ↗

• “We have to look at medicines in a different light … and calculate the economic and clinical benefit on that basis.”

  Health under-secretary and Scottish surgeon · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · UK set on resolving standoff with big pharma, science minister says ↗

Recent social activity

• If only they were that well thought through

  x.com ↗

• Even in today's social media some comments still blow me away. This is one in response to a merchant navy war memorial in my constituency, posted in a group of 21K followers where a person (my office has previously helped) feels emboldened enough to be openly Islamophobic. https://t.co/kDq6VrPzm1

  x.com ↗

Where Dr Zubir Ahmed has been quoted

1. UK lawmakers vote down bill to allow assisted dying in England and Waleskrcgtv.com · 30 Sept 2026
2. UK Assisted Dying Bill Defeated: Lawmakers Reject England-Wales Plan 286-270 in Commons Votelatestly.com · 29 Sept 2026
3. UK set on resolving standoff with big pharma, science minister saystheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026

Related media coverage

Recent UK press coverage of their topics — not necessarily citing them directly.

• Leaders in Care Awards 2026 | Lifetime Achievement: Care Homes winner revealedHome Care Insight
• GP architect of neighbourhood health reforms to leave NHS EnglandPulse Today
• An important step forward in ending corridor care - Colin Poolman | Blog | RCN ScotlandRoyal College of Nursing

Contact & links

• Staff pagehttps://members.parliament.uk/member/5213/contact
• Websitehttps://drzubirahmed.com/about-me/
• Xhttps://x.com/zubirahmedpublished here ↗
• LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-zubir-ahmed-mp-75759554/

Organisational contact points only, each taken from a page the organisation publishes itself. No personal or direct contact details are held or shown.