00:00What's not to like about the new guy at the helm of PhilHealth? Nada.
00:04A bachelor's degree in 1987 from the country's premier state university,
00:08a master's education in credentials in global health from Harvard,
00:11and an executive master's degree in healthcare administration from the UNC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
00:17All told, more than 35 years in hospital management,
00:21who's right home on the operating table, just as in the boardroom.
00:25Our Alan Francisco has more on the new PhilHealth head honcho,
00:28plus the president's new guy and former general leading the PIDEA.
00:34President Ferdinand R. Marquez, Jr. has appointed Dr. Edwin Mercado
00:39as the new president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, or PhilHealth.
00:45Mercado took his oath before the president at Malacanang,
00:48replacing Emmanuel Ledesma, Jr., who led the agency for over a year.
00:53With 35 years of experience in hospital management,
00:56Mercado previously served as vice chairman of Mercado General Hospital,
01:01QualiMed Health Network since March 2021.
01:04He is also a regular faculty lecturer at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health.
01:10As PhilHealth chief, he is focusing on analyzing the cost per member for global coverage
01:16of inpatient services and advocating for the use of artificial intelligence in community healthcare.
01:23PhilHealth expressed confidence in Mercado's leadership, citing his extensive experience in the medical field.
01:30The agency assured that key initiatives, particularly the universal healthcare program,
01:35will continue under his administration.
01:38The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation welcomes the appointment of Dr. Edwin Mercado
01:44as its new president and chief executive officer.
01:47Health Secretary Chedore Urbosa also welcomed Mercado's appointment
01:51and expressed gratitude to outgoing PCEO Emmanuel Ledesma, Jr. for his service.
01:57Meanwhile, President Marcos also appointed former PNP Major General Isagani Neres
02:03as the new director general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
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