MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has appointed Dr. Edwin Mercado as the new health secretary, putting the former Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) chief at the helm of the Department of Health (DOH) following the abrupt resignation of Dr. Jose “Brix” Pujalte Jr. after less than a month in office.
Mercado takes over a health department facing pressing concerns over access to medicines and healthcare delivery, as well as lingering questions surrounding the temporary suspension of the procurement of tuberculosis drugs and other medical supplies under his predecessor.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Pujalte voluntarily stepped down because of health concerns and President Marcos accepted his resignation.
“Ang naipaabot sa atin ay kusang nag-resign si Dr. Pujalte dahil na rin sa kanyang kalusugan,” Castro said.
Pujalte assumed the DOH post on July 13, succeeding Dr. Ted Herbosa, who also reportedly left the position for health reasons.
His brief tenure, however, was marked by controversy over the temporary suspension of the procurement of tuberculosis medicines and concerns raised after he was seen at a casino.
Health advocates and workers had asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate and dismiss Pujalte over the suspension of the procurement of anti-TB drugs and other supplies.
Pujalte defended the move, saying the review was intended to ensure that the procurement system was responsive to patients’ needs, transparent and compliant with existing laws.
He also denied visiting the casino to gamble, saying he was there for “official business.”
Castro declined to say whether the controversies surrounding Pujalte played a role in his resignation.
“Sa ngayon ay hindi po natin masasagot. Siya naman po ang boluntaryong nag-resign at ito naman po ay tinanggap ng ating Pangulo,” she said.
Castro added that any complaints already filed against Pujalte with the Ombudsman would have to be resolved by the anti-graft agency.
Mercado moves to the DOH after serving as acting president and chief executive officer of PhilHealth since February 2025.
His appointment also triggers another leadership change in the government’s health sector, with Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, chief health officer of Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. and a former DOH undersecretary, set to take over the top post at PhilHealth.
Before joining PhilHealth, Mercado served as vice chairman of the Mercado General Hospital/Qualimed Health Network beginning in March 2021.
He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of the Philippines in 1987 and later obtained an Executive Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina. In 2023, he earned a Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery from Harvard Medical School.
Mercado also worked with the Zuellig Family Foundation and various DOH Centers for Health Development, providing technical assistance to provincial health boards in developing and managing healthcare provider networks.
His appointment places him at the forefront of the Marcos administration’s efforts to improve access to medicines, strengthen healthcare delivery and government health services, and provide stability to the DOH following another sudden change in leadership./PN
