On Wednesday, the Department of Health (DOH) inaugurated the first Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) facility in the Philippines at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga.
The 5,000-square meter, one-story center aims to provide ambulatory medical and surgical care, focusing on Central Luzon residents. Services initially include general, oral-maxillofacial, and otorhinolaryngologic surgery, along with comprehensive diagnostic laboratories.
Additional services such as ambulatory surgery in ophthalmology, orthopedics, pediatrics, and dentistry, as well as radiology and pharmacy services, will be offered soon.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa emphasized the government’s commitment to establishing 28 primary care centers to serve the 28 million poorest Filipinos by 2028.
This initiative aligns with the Regional Specialty Centers Act signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in August 2023, mandating the creation of specialty healthcare centers across the country.
Under the law, the DOH will establish specialty centers in its hospitals in every region and in government-owned specialty hospitals.
Source: PhilNews24 | March 7, 2024
