Marcos names new PhilHealth chief

NEW PHILHEALTH CHIEF. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administers the oath of office of Dr. Edwin Mercado as the new president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Tuesday (Feb. 4, 2025) in Malacañang. A US-trained orthopedic surgeon with 35 years of experience in hospital management, Mercado replaces Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. as head of the state insurer. (PCO photo)

By Darryl John Esguerra, Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. named Edwin Mercado as the new president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Mercado took his oath before the President in Malacañang on Tuesday morning.

A US-trained orthopedic surgeon with 35 years of experience in hospital management, Mercado replaced Emmanuel Ledesma Jr.

as head of the state insurer.

Mercado has been the vice chairperson of the Mercado General Hospital/Qualimed Health Network since March 2021.

A Doctor of Medicine graduate of the University of the Philippines in 1987, Mercado 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.

‘Prioritize public health’

Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero welcomed the appointment and urged Mercado to prioritize the welfare of beneficiaries.

“Tutukan ang benepisyo na dapat binibigay sa ating mga kababayan at tiyakin na match ito sa pangangailangan talaga ng ating mga kababayan at hindi kung ano lang ang gusto nilanmg ibigay base sa sarili nilang convenience (They must ensure that the benefits provided truly meet the needs of the people, rather than just offering what is convenient for them to implement),” Escudero said in an interview at the Senate in Pasay City.

In a separate statement, Senator Grace Poe expressed hope that Mercado would revitalize the state insurer and fulfill its mandate of providing reliable and accessible healthcare.

“PhilHealth members paying higher premiums must feel the benefits or at least have peace of mind that they can rely on it,” Poe said.

She also urged the agency to settle outstanding obligations to health workers and hospitals, calling for a more responsive and efficient healthcare system.