In The Frontline: Meet six Filipinos leading the way in health and wellness

As the eldest of eight siblings, she took the family business to greater heights and maintained its name as a top drugstore chain in the country. The rise of Vivian Que-Azcona from an entry-level staff assistant to the president of Mercury Drug is a testament to her perseverance and skills. Under her helm, Mercury Drug established itself as a reliable brand in the healthcare industry, with over 1,000 stores nationwide.

In the face of a global pandemic, Que-Azcona relentlessly worked to develop solutions, such as introducing a drive-thru service and a mobile app. She also fought against misinformation on drugs and stringent lockdowns. She had to answer the call of public duty, just as her father, Mariano Que, had done during the Second World War. In 2021, she won the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards, which acknowledged her tenacity and commitment to service.

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At the height of the pandemic, almost every Filipino is tuned in to their TV screens as a calm Dr Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire gives updates on the Covid-19 situation in the country every four o'clock in the afternoon. The current undersecretary of the UHC Health Services Cluster of the Department of Health (DOH) is notably known as one of the forefronts during uncertain times, providing solutions and ways to usher the country into the “new normal”.

She served as undersecretary and was also the DOH's former spokesperson. Her tasks included deflecting criticisms, addressing fake news and correcting inaccuracies, even when they originated from other government officials. Her calm demeanour belied her apprehension as a non-clinical doctor tasked with passing on information about a virus that even the most experienced doctors and scientists knew little about.

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When Covid-19 broke out in 2020, the country had its back to the wall, with only a few laboratories capable of detecting the disease. Dr Pia Bagamasbad PhD, a leading scientist at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines, took on the monumental task of enhancing the country's testing capacity. Bagamasbad led a government-accredited RT-PCR training programme, the first of its kind in the Philippines. This programme trained laboratory personnel in accurate and efficient RT-PCR testing. Under her guidance, these newly skilled professionals significantly developed the country's testing capacity.

Beyond her quick response to a global pandemic, her discovery of the Kruppel-like factor 9 (KFL9) gene, which inhibits tumour growth, provided connections between stress, sleep and cancer, potentially paving the way for therapeutic approaches. The professor of molecular biology continues to advocate for STEM education, inspiring a new generation of researchers

Read more: Pia D Bagamasbad, PhD shares her journey to healing the Philippines during the pandemic

One of the country's leading dermatologists and founder of The Aivee Group and its flagship company, Aivee Clinic, has changed how Filipinos approach dermatological treatments. Dr Aivee Aguilar-Teo specialises in non-invasive aesthetic medicine, which she honed through extensive training in the United States, Thailand and Singapore. Her treatments cover laser technologies, weight loss programmes and cell-generating therapies.

Teo also founded Beauty Beyond Borders, a medical mission where she and her team provide dermatological and skin-surgical assistance to needy communities. In 2022, the Aivee Clinic received five prestigious titles, including the 7-Star Overall Award for Non-Invasive Treatment at the Tala Awards by Merz Aesthetics Philippines.

Read more: 14 years of excellence with Dr Aivee Aguilar-Teo

Founded in 1945 by JY Campos and MK Tan, United Laboratories (Unilab) has grown from a small corner drugstore in Manila to a healthcare empire. Its third-generation scion, Clinton Campos Hess, is not just keeping his family's legacy alive—he's redefining it. As president and CEO, he led Unilab beyond pharmaceuticals into hospitals and clinics. Household names like Biogesic, Neozep and RiteMed generic medicines are only a part of its extensive portfolio.

Read more: Meet the people who are changing the face of healthcare in Asia

In a landmark move amid a pandemic, Campos Hess announced plans to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines locally, showcasing his vision for expanding Unilab's role in global health crises. Campos Hess recently launched the Unilab Center for Health Policy, a platform for stakeholders to develop health policies.

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