THE Board of Directors of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has unanimously elected Dr. Roy B. Ferrer as the Acting President and Chief Executive Officer (APCEO) of the government owned and controlled corporation.
In his message during today’s Special Board Meeting held at the PhilHealth Head Office in Pasig City, Ferrer said that “our marching order is quite clear; we are asked to commit ourselves to the mission of providing every Filipino the highest quality of health care that is accessible, efficient, equitably distributed, adequately funded, fairly financed and appropriately used by an informed and empowered public.”
He also articulated that “in achieving universal health care, we are asked to pursue three (3) thrusts, namely, financial risk protection through expansion in enrolment and benefit delivery of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP); improved access to quality hospitals and health care facilities; and attainment of health-related Millennium Development Goals.”
In light of recent events that have thrust PhilHealth into the limelight, Ferrer firmly believes that “...we can look at this situation from a positive perspective. These so-called problems can be turned into opportunities….for change for the better,” adding that “for the optimist and the committed ones, the past can only be pregnant with valuable reasons and lessons – these are lessons that are heeded and learned – (that) can only make us stronger, judicious in our decisions, and right in our actions.”
He also urged fellow Board members to strengthen their commitment and resolve to help achieve PhilHealth’s noble goals. “Let us now summon our collective talents and dedication, and utilize the resultant synergy for the great mission that we are mandated to do,” he said.
Ferrer holds a Master of Science Degree in Internal Medicine, major in Diabetology from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center’s Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the Ateneo de Davao University and his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Davao Medical School Foundation in 1990.
Prior to his first appointment to PhilHealth as Board Member in January 2017, he was President of Central Lab Diabetes Wellness, Heart and Kidneys, Inc. from 2010 to 2014, and became its Chief Finance Officer from 2015 to 2016. He was also the President of the Southern Mindanao Chapter of the Philippine Society of Medical Specialists, Inc. in Government Service.
Earlier, he was a Director of the Mindanao Diabetes Center of the Southern Philippines Medical Center, a Board Member of the Stroke Society of the Philippines’ Southern Mindanao Chapter for about four (4) years, and President of the Diabetes Philippines’ Southern Mindanao Chapter from 2009 to 2012. It was during his time when the Davao Chapter was awarded the Best Diabetes Chapter by Diabetes Philippines.
Ferrer is a Fellow of various medical societies and attends annual international conventions for continuing medical education. These include conventions organized by the American Diabetes Association, the International Diabetes Federation, the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. (END)
Reference: Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas, OIC-SVP, Health Finance Policy Sector (Mobile: 0917-8089399)