Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian InquirerAugust 11, 2026President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Dr. Edwin Mercado as the new secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), replacing Jose “Brix” Pujalte Jr., who is stepping down from the post less than a month after his appointment as health chief. The Palace did not respond to questions on whether the departure was connected to issues the outgoing secretary had been facing. Before his appointment to the DOH, Mercado served as acting president and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) starting February 2025. Meanwhile, Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho has been appointed as the new president and CEO of PhilHealth, taking over from Mercado. Ho currently serves as chief health officer of Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. and has previously held several senior positions within the DOH.