The Department of Health (DOH) and the Provincial Government of Pampanga inaugurated the first-ever Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) facility in the country located in Barangay San Vicente, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.
The inauguration and opening ceremony was spearheaded by Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa held at Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) Ambulatory Surgical and Multi-Specialty Center (JASMC).
The Health Secretary was joined by Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, DOH Central Luzon Center for Health Development (CLCHD) Regional Director Corazon Flores, and JBLMGH Medical Center Chief Monserrat S. Chichioco who also led the ceremony and marked a significant step towards ensuring access to quality healthcare for all Filipinos.
Also in attendance were 4th District of Pampanga Rep. Anna York Bondoc-Sagum, Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, Sto. Tomas Mayor Johnny Sambo.
Herbosa said the historic event is among the marching order of President Ferdinand Romaldez Marcos, Jr. to bring healthcare Closer to the people, and to the Department of Health.
The BUCAS center at JBLMGH Ambulatory Surgical and Multispecialty Center occupies a one-story facility spanning 5,000 square meters.
This facility was established through the generous contribution of Mayor Sambo, together with Vice Mayor Jun Pineda, the Municipal Councilors, and with the support of Congresswoman Bondoc, who donated the health facility structure, along with an additional two hectares of land, to the DOH.
It is envisioned to address the ambulatory medical and surgical care needs of Filipinos from Central Luzon, giving the best for the poorest of Pampanga and its surrounding municipalities as catchment areas.
The BUCAS center at JASMC is ready to offer surgical services in general surgery, oral-maxillofacial surgery, otorhinolaryngologic surgery, and reproductive health.
Dr. Chichioco, Medical Center Chief Il of JBLMGH said it has laboratories with comprehensive diagnostic capabilities.
Efforts are underway to start providing additional services including ambulatory surgery in ophthalmology, orthopedics, pediatrics, and dentistry, as well as radiology and pharmacy services, expanding the range of health services available to the public.
“The DOH was inspired by the concept of the LAB For All project, headed by First Lady Atty.Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta Marcos. We want to institutionalize the LAB for all concept through BUCAS centers, to bring the best to the poorest in terms of urgent care and ambulatory services. 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!” said Secretary Herbosa.
The JBLMGH Ambulatory Surgical and Multi-Specialty Center where the BUCAS center is located was a priority project of then Pampanga Rep. Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc and finished in 2019.
The building, constructed in 2019 through the efforts of former Cong. Bondoc and Mayor Sambo, it was originally intended for the town’s community hospital but did not push through for its operation because of lack of budget.
The following year it was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to lockdowns that prevented it from fulfilling its intended purpose.
Instead, the building was used as an isolation facility during the pandemic.
Until Mayor Sambo and members of the Sangguniang Bayan decided to donate the facility to JBLGMH to serve its purpose of improving the healthcare service in town.
Cong. Bondoc said the JBLMGH-BUCAS center will also benefit residents from other towns within the Fourth District and even as far as Bulacan and nearby provinces.
The BUCAS center will accommodate 150-200 patients in a regular day 24/7 operation.
After the inaugural ceremony, Herbosa, the Pampanga local officials and doctors of the JBLMGH led the groundbreaking of the P200-million JBLMGH expansion building located at the back of BUCAS center.
