Dr. Edwin Mercado named as new secretary of DOH

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed acting President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) Dr. Edwin Mercado as the new secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), replacing Dr. Jose “Brix” Pujalte Jr., Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Monday.

Castro said Pujalte “voluntarily resigned” due to health reasons.

Pujalte was appointed DOH secretary only in July, succeeding former DOH secretary Teodoro Herbosa.

Pujalte's brief stint at the DOH came amid a complaint against him that had been elevated from the Presidential Complaint Center to the Office of the Ombudsman.

The complaint reportedly included allegations involving the procurement of tuberculosis-related supplies and other concerns.

Meanwhile, Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. Chief Health Officer Beverly Lorraine Ho, also a former DOH official, will replace Mercado as the state health insurer’s president and CEO.

-Darryl John Esguerra/Philippine News Agency