Int’l Public Health Expert Now Philippine Special Envoy for Global Health Initiatives

20 April 2018 — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has recently appointed international public health expert Dr. Susan Pineda-Mercado as Special Envoy for Global Health Initiatives.

Malacañang released Mercado’s appointment papers on 17 April stating that she will serve a yearlong term from 01 January to 31 December 2018.

“We welcome the appointment of Dr. Susan P. Mercado. We are confident that she will contribute greatly towards advancing the cause of universal health coverage,” said Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano.

Mercado formerly served at the World Health Organization Regional Office for Western Pacific (WPRO) as the Director for Noncommunicable Diseases and Health through the Life-Course where she led teams of international public health experts who work closely with governments in 31 countries and areas across Asia and the Pacific.

Mercado has served the World Health Organization (WHO) for more than 15 years. She has also served as the Regional Adviser for Health Promotion in WPRO and as the Team Leader for Urban Health Equity of the WHO Kobe Center in Japan as well as the WPRO’s Tobacco Free Initiative.

Mercado graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in AB Philosophy (magna cum laude). She obtained her Doctor of Medicine and Masters in Public Health degrees from the same university.

She is married to former Philippine senator and radio broadcaster Orlando Mercado, and has two children, Lhas and Renzo Orlando. END