The Philippines' state insurer gets a new chief in Beverly Lorraine Ho, Chief Health Officer of Ayala Healthcare Holdings and a former Department of Health (DOH) official. She was appointed as the new President and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth), according to a presidential spokesman.
Ms Ho will succeed Dr Edwin Mercado, who has been appointed Secretary of the DOH by President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr.
Dr Mercado had been serving as PhilHealth’s acting President and CEO before his appointment to lead the country’s health department.
His move comes as Dr Jose “Brix” Pujalte Jr stepped down from the post, citing health reasons, according to Ms Castro. Dr Pujalte had only assumed the role of Health Secretary in July, replacing Dr Teodoro Herbosa.
His departure followed reports of a complaint against him that was elevated from the Presidential Complaint Center to the Office of the Ombudsman. The complaint reportedly involved allegations concerning the procurement of tuberculosis-related supplies and other matters.