PINANGUNAHAN ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. nitong Martes ang panunumpa sa tungkulin nina bagong Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Edwin Mercado at Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) President at Chief Executive Officer Dr. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho sa magkahiwalay na seremonya sa Malacañang.
Nauna nang inanunsyo ng Malacañang ang pagkakatalaga kay Dr. Mercado bilang bagong kalihim ng DOH.
Ayon kay Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary at Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, si Mercado ay dating Acting President and Chief Executive Officer ng PhilHealth, kung saan siya itinalaga noong Pebrero 2025.
Bago naging DOH secretary, nagsilbi si Mercado bilang medical director ng Daniel Mercado Medical Center mula 1998 hanggang 2000 at naging president at CEO ng iba’t ibang ospital mula 2000 hanggang 2016.
Nagtapos siya ng Medicine sa University of the Philippines at kumuha ng Master of Medical Science in Global Health Delivery sa Harvard Medical School noong 2023. Mayroon din siyang Executive Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration mula sa University of North Carolina sa Estados Unidos.
Papalitan ni Mercado si outgoing DOH Secretary Jose Pujalte Jr.
Samantala, si Dr. Ho naman ang papalit kay Mercado bilang Acting President and Chief Executive Officer ng PhilHealth.
Bago ang kanyang appointment, nagsilbi si Ho bilang Chief Health Officer ng Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc.
Nagsilbi rin siya sa DOH bilang assistant secretary mula Enero 2023 hanggang Enero 2024 at undersecretary mula Hulyo hanggang Disyembre 2022.
Naging deputy spokesperson din siya ng DOH mula Marso 2020 hanggang Disyembre 2023.
(CHRISTIAN DALE)
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