Manila, Feb. 5 -- The new chief of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) pledged to address the systemic challenges facing the state insurer under his leadership, describing them as "illnesses" that need urgent treatment.

PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Edwin Mercado, who took his oath of office before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, said that one of his primary goals would be to improve the agency's processes.

In a press briefing in Malacanang Wednesday, Mercado laid out his vision for reform, citing key areas that require attention, including benefits management, claims processing, and financial reporting.

He emphasized the need for a thorough examination of PhilHealth's internal workings t...