The Department of Health-Davao Center for Health Development through Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is gearing for the inauguration of the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) center in Marilog District, Davao City.
The BUCAS Center is part of DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s “28 for 28 by 28” initiative to help fulfill his 8-Point Action Agenda for Health, targeting the establishment of at least 28 BUCAS Centers to serve the 28 million Filipinos most in need of accessible and quality healthcare services by 2028.
Dr. Anabelle P. Yumang, regional director of DOH-Davao, said she was informed by SPMC officer-in-charge medical center chief that the opening of Marilog BUCAS Center is targeted in August this year.
“Marilog BUCAS Center is now being prepared for its operation. We are still waiting for SPMC for Marilog at sabi ni Dr. Ric Audan it will be inaugurated in August this year,” Yumang said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas with DOH 11 on Tuesday.
Two BUCAS centers in Davao Regional Medical Center are now functional, the Tagum City Health Office in Davao del Norte and the Davao Occidental General Hospital in Malita, Davao Occidental.
“Si DRMC outpatient pa lang ang ginagawa nila and the full operation will be on July 31 this year. In Davao Occidental, they recently held the inauguration of the center,” Yumang said.
According to DOH, a BUCAS Center is an intermediate health facility that aims to bridge the gap between primary care facilities (rural health units or city health centers) and higher-level health institutions (hospitals) by providing urgent health care services (minor surgeries and other ancillary services) throughout the week including weekends.
