Dr. Ramon Figueroa on Moves to N.H.I.

Ramon Figueroa

Two former Ministry of Health C.E.O.s are now employed at the National Health Insurance Department.  Doctor Ramon Figueroa, the General Manager of N.H.I., was the C.E.O. at ministry under former U.D.P. Minister Pablo Marin, when he was transferred to N.H.I.  While information at the time suggested that Marin and Figueroa had a strained working relationship, Marin denied there being any bad blood.  Now, Doctor Deysi Mendez, the former C.E.O. of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, under Minister Michel Chebat, is being transferred to National Health Insurance, as head of that unit.  While there were also rumors that Mendez and Chebat did not see eye-to-eye on several issues, Minister Henry Charles Usher asserted that the move was all part of the plan by the Briceño Administration.  Doctor Ramon Figueroa says N.H.I. needs the expertise.

Dr. Ramon Figueroa, General Manager, National Health Insurance

“Look, you can look at it from the different perspective. You can look at it like it’s a problem, or you can look at it as an opportunity. Personally for me, that was an excellent change. I am doing what I like, less stressful environment. The C.E.O. position is not an easy position. You have to be able to deal with politics, and the technical issues, and human resources – very stressful.  I can tell you, I experienced it. So, for me, it was a wonderful change.  And, now that we have a previous C.E.O. coming over to us, for me it is an opportunity because as you know, we are in the process of planning the roll out of National Health Insurance. We are the smallest unit as it is, and we need all the assistance, all the experience and human resources we can get. And, this is somebody who started with us at NHI. Doctor Mendez is someone that actually started with me at N.H.I., so she knows N.H.I. and has the experience.”