Mihály Kökény

Following his graduation from the Faculty of General Medicine, Semmelweis University of Medicine in 1974, Doctor Kökény obtained board certification in internal medicine and cardiology. Between 1974 and 1979, he was a practising physician at the National Institute of Cardiology and was engaged in scientific work, too. From 1979 to 1990, he worked in the civil service at various positions in state administration.

In the Ministry of Health, his responsibilities included organising health programmes, and as Department Head at the Office of the Council of Ministers, he was in charge, among other duties, of elaborating the first ever Hungarian health promotion strategy. Dr Kökény was deputy minister of health in the Németh Administration, from 1988 to 1990.

After the change of the political system, Dr Kökény resumed his work at the National Institute of Cardiology as deputy director-general and he was the medical manager of a private health care business in foreign ownership. Dr Kökény has been a member and parliamentary expert advisor of the Hungarian Social Party since 1991; between 1992 and 1994, he held the position of national party executive. In 1994, he was elected Member of Parliament in Ferencváros constituency, while in 1998, he became an MP on the Budapest list of the Hungarian Socialist party. Dr Kökény was parliamentary secretary of state at the Ministry of Welfare from 1994; from 1996 to 1998 he was Minister of Welfare. In the period 1998-2002, Dr Kökény was chairman of Parliament's Health and Social Affairs Committee. In April 2002, he secured a seat in Parliament from Ferencváros constituency. Dr Kökény is married and his spouse is a chemical engineer.

He was appointed parliamentary secretary of state at the Ministry of Health, Social and Family Affairs as of 27 May 2002.

Since 15 September 2003, he has been Minister of Health, Social and Family Affairs.