New DOH, PhilHealth heads named

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. swore in former Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) president and CEO Edwin Mercado as the new Department of Health (DOH) Secretary on Monday. Taking his place at PhilHealth is Beverly Lorraine Ho, whom the president swore in at a separate ceremony.

In addition to being PhilHealth chief from February 2025 until his new appointment, Mercado previously served as medical director of Daniel Mercado Medical Center, and president and CEO at various hospitals.

Ho is currently chief health officer of Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc., and previously served as assistant secretary, undersecretary, and deputy spokesperson of the DOH.

Mercado replaces Dr. Jose “Brix” Pujalte Jr., who was appointed DOH secretary last July 13, replacing Teodoro Herbosa, and stepped down after 28 days.

Pujalte had recently come under fire for allegedly delaying the Php 3 billion bidding for anti-tuberculosis medicines. Pujalte has denied the allegations.

“The information relayed to us was that Dr. Pujalte voluntarily resigned because of his health,” said Malacañang Palace press officer Claire Castro.

Furthering Universal Health Care in the Philippines

Senator JV Ejercito noted that Mercado and Ho would help further the objectives of the Universal Health Care law, saying, “This will be a UHC friendly team!”

“We support the appointment of Dr. Edwin Mercado as the new secretary of health. We are optimistic that he will bring his valuable expertise as a physician and health care executive to the DOH at a time when we need to push our health reforms even further,” he said.