Malacañang reported on Thursday that over 25,000 Filipinos have been served by the government’s Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Centers in Eastern Visayas.
The BUCAS centers are part of the administration’s efforts to provide free outpatient services to patients who need urgent care but do not require hospitalization. They offer services such as free medical consultations, laboratory tests, X-rays, and medicines.
In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that ensuring accessible healthcare for Filipinos is among the priorities of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
She said that in Eastern Visayas alone, three BUCAS centers are currently operational and have been accommodating thousands of patients in nearby areas.
These centers are managed by the Department of Health (DOH) through the Eastern Visayas Medical Center and are located in Catarman, Northern Samar, and in Tolosa and Villaba, Leyte.
“Mula noon hanggang ngayon ay napupuntahan ito ng ating mga kababayan para sa agarang serbisyong medikal na hindi naman kailangan ipasok pa sa ospital,” Castro said.
“Patients served since implementation ay 25,070 na ating mga kababayan. At ang top services rendered ay mental health, hypertension management, maternal and child health services,” she added.
Aside from BUCAS centers, Castro also cited other government healthcare initiatives, such as the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program and the expanded coverage of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) benefits.
According to Castro, while the DOH is still validating the data, initial reports show that more than 37,000 patients have been served under the ZBB program, with total costs amounting to around PhP1.49 billion. | PND
Reference: https://pco.gov.ph/
