PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed US-trained orthopedic surgeon Dr. Edwin Mercado as the new president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth).
Marcos administered the oath of office of Mercado, who will replace Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., in Malacañang on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
The Malacañang vouched for Mercado, noting his 35 years of experience in hospital management.
Mercado has been the vice chairman of the Mercado General Hospital and Qualimed Health Network since March 2021.
“He has demonstrated proven leadership and executive and strategic planning expertise. Under his leadership, Mercado General Hospital Inc. (MGHI) has expanded into a national chain of healthcare facilities that include four general hospitals, six multi-specialty clinics, two surgery centers, 150 primary care corporate clinics, a college for paramedical professionals, and a physician practice group of 400 doctors,” the Presidential communications Office said.
“Mercado has dedicated his work to ensuring equitable access to quality medical care and leveraging technology to strengthen health systems, particularly in financial management and primary care programs,” it added.
The new Philhealth chief is a graduate of the University of the Philippines in 1987 and completed his Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery from Harvard Medical School in 2023.
He also has an Executive Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina in the US.
Mercado also served as a faculty lecturer at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH) on Global Supply Chain, Research Methods, and Implementation Science, as well as a guest lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Public Health on Medical Processes and Programs.
The government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) that provides health insurance to all Filipinos under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) has been in hot water over the transfer of its P60 billion excessive funds to the national treasury for the unprogrammed appropriations of Republic Act 11975, or the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
In October, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the transfer of unused funds from Philhealth to the national treasury.
So far, almost P30 billion has yet to be transferred. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)