Mercury Drug President Vivian Que-Azcona Passes Away at 69

Vivian Que-Azcona was one of the honorees in the inaugural The Business Manual CEO Awards. 

Vivian Que-Azcona, the president of pharmacy chain Mercury Drug, has passed away. She was 69. 

Her passing was confirmed by Mercury Drug in a short statement on social media. 

“With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved President,” the company said in its statement. “We kindly ask for your prayers for the eternal repose of her soul.”

Pharmaceutical company Unilab expressed its condolences on social media as well.

“We at Unilab Group extend our heartfelt condolences on the untimely passing of Ms. Vivian Que-Azcona, President of Mercury Group of Companies,” it said.

“She was a visionary leader and a dedicated partner who has left an indelible mark on the Mercury Group of Companies, the healthcare industry, and the country,” the statement added. “Ms. Que-Azcona lived with purpose and passion, ensuring only the best healthcare is accessible to Filipinos.”

Who Was Vivian Que-Azcona? 

Mercury Drug was founded by Que-Azcona’s father, Mariano Que, post-World War II. He started with a small pushcart selling medicine, and then opened its first store in 1945 along Bambang Street. 

Que-Azcona began her career as a staff assistant with Mercury Drug in 1977, after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, cum laude, from the University of Santo Tomas, and becoming a licensed pharmacist.

She became president of the company in 1998. Under her leadership and guidance, Mercury Drug became the Filipinos’ trusted health and wellness partner with over 1,000 stores nationwide, commanding a 50% market share in the pharmaceutical retail industry by 2017.

In 2024, Que-Azcona and her siblings were number 14 on the Forbes list of the nation’s 50 richest with a net worth of $1.7 billion (approximately PHP 97 billion).

A Visionary Leader in the Healthcare Industry

Que-Azcona’s visionary approach led to numerous awards and accolades for herself and Mercury Drug. Mercury Drug has been awarded six Platinum Trusted Brand Awards as well as two Gold Quality Service Awards from Reader’s Digest in the pharmacy/drugstore category.

Que-Azcona herself received accolades from her alma mater as well as the Colegio Medico Farmaceutico de Filipinas, Incorporada. She was also awarded the Most Outstanding Health Professional in Pharmacy in 1989, Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015, and the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021.

Last year, Que-Azcona was one of the visionary leaders honored at the inaugural The Business Manual CEO Awards. She was honored for her remarkable achievements in the industry and dedication, innovation, and exceptional leadership that went beyond the walls of her pharmacies. 

Her journey exemplified not just business success, but also the kind of visionary leadership that revolutionized the healthcare sector, and inspired many other entrepreneurs.