DOH inaugurates first urgent care center in PH

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa speaks at the inauguration of the first Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) center in the country during the launch in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga on March 6, 2024. Photo from the Department of Health

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday opened the first Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) center in the Philippines during a ceremony in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga.

The BUCAS facility, located at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital, was built as part of the government’s efforts to “bring healthcare closer to the people,” the DOH said in a statement.

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The center, which the DOH called a “significant step towards ensuring access to quality healthcare for all Filipinos,” is a one-story facility spanning 5,000 square meters.

The BUCAS facility seeks to address the  ambulatory medical and surgical care needs of Filipinos from Central Luzon, the department said.

“The BUCAS center at JASMC is ready to offer surgical services in general surgery, oral-maxillofacial surgery, otorhinolaryngologic surgery, and reproductive health,” the DOH explained.

The DOH said that the facility will soon provide additional services including ambulatory surgery in ophthalmology,  orthopedics, pediatrics, and dentistry, as well as radiology and pharmacy services.

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“As we unveil this pioneering BUCAS center less than three months from conceptualization, we focus on our goal of establishing 28 primary care centers to serve the 28 million poorest Filipinos by the year 2028,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa was quoted as saying in the statement.