File photo shows mothers cuddling their babies inside the maternity ward of the government-run Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Manila in 2020. (REUTERS)
MANILA, Philippines — The country’s healthcare system has to be more proactive so that every Filipino will have access to urgent care, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. stressed during the inauguration of the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service Center (BUCAS) at the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) in Quezon City on Tuesday
“This administration envisions a future where every Filipino, no matter where they live, has access to the urgent care that they need. A future where our healthcare system is proactive, not just reactive,” said Marcos in his speech.
(Screengrab from RTVM)
Marcos then handed financial assistance of over P520 million to the PHC, the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI).
The PHC was given P200.5 million, while LCP got P185.2 million and NKTI P134 million.
“These grants aim to further their excellence in disease prevention, diagnostics, and treatments that is the record of those specialty hospitals,” he said.
The BUCAS facility at the PHC, Marcos said, would bridge the gap between primary care facilities and higher-level health institutions by providing urgent health care services for minor surgeries and other ancillary services.
This, he said, would ensure that focus will be given to patients needing special care, while still providing proper medical services for those with less complicated cases.
“With 31 BUCAS Centers nationwide as of September this year, we are not just keeping that promise within the walls of one building but we are spreading it to various places around the country. We are ready to respond, ready to care wherever and whenever needed,” said Marcos.