A historic milestone in Philippine healthcare unfolded as the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday, March 6 opened the country’s first Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) center, which is located in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga.
“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. Tandaan, sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay Mahalaga!" DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.
Herbosa, alongside Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, DOH Central Luzon Center for Health Development Regional Director Corazon Flores, and Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) Medical Center Chief II Dr. Monserrat Chichioco, spearheaded the ceremony.
The center, nestled within the JBLMGH, marks a significant leap towards accessible and quality medical services for all.
Spanning 5,000 square meters, the BUCAS Center at JBLMGH Ambulatory Surgical and Multispecialty Center (JASMC) is primed to offer a range of surgical services, including general surgery, oral-maxillofacial surgery, otorhinolaryngologic surgery, and reproductive health.
Equipped with laboratories showcasing comprehensive diagnostic capabilities, the center aims to broaden its services to include ambulatory surgery in ophthalmology, orthopedics, pediatrics, and dentistry, as well as radiology and pharmacy services.
Chichioco, emphasized the center's capacity to accommodate 150 to 200 patients daily, with healthcare staff on duty from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Operating under the mantra of providing ambulatory surgical procedures, the center aims to streamline patient care without the need for hospital admissions.
“Ang gagawin nating operasyon dito ay ang mga operasyon na hindi kailangang i-admit ang pasyente, at ito ay tinatawag na ambulatory surgical procedure,” she added.
Additionally, the BUCAS facility, Herbosa said, was established to help decongest the regional hospitals in the country.
"Para ang mga pasyente natin ay hindi na masyadong pipila sa mga outpatient department (So that our patients won't have to wait too long in the outpatient department)," Chichioco added.