(L-R) Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire, 2nd District Congressman Dante S. Garcia, Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa, La Union Vice Governor Marion Eduardo C. Ortega, ITRMC Chief II Eduardo M. Badua III and Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco prepares to cut the ceremonial ribbon for the formal opening of the Tubao BUCAS Center last June 14, 2024
DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) led by Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa formally opened the fully functional BUCAS (Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service) Center on Friday, June 17, 2024 in the town of Tubao, located at the 2nd Congressional District of La Union.
“We now have two functioning urgent care facilities in Ilocos, the other opened on May 28 in Banna, Ilocos Norte, and now we can provide immediate medical services, especially for non-life-threatening medical issues that do not require an emergency room but necessitate prompt care and treatment.”
“Dito sila pupunta upang magpagamot at mabigyan ng pangunahing lunas at ito ay magbibigay ng serbisyo mula 7AM to 11PM Lunes hanggang Linggo upang lahat ng may karamdaman ay makakapunta,” Secretary Herbosa stated.
“These two centers will be the middle ground between primary care physicians and hospital emergency departments and they will help reduce the congestion in emergency rooms, allowing ERs to focus on more critical cases that are more essential. At gagawin pa po natin itong makabago at moderno at maglalagay ng karagdagang servisyo gaya ng diagnostic services,” he added.
The BUCAS Center is part of DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s DOH Modernization for Health Equity and “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.
Among the services available in BUCAS Centers are out-patient services including medical consultation, dental services, x-ray, laboratory testing, and ambulatory surgical services.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco said that the two facilities will address the health needs of all patients at the community level, integrating care, prevention, promotion, and education.
She also assured that primary healthcare facilities in the region will continue to be strengthened to ensure equity and access to healthcare services to achieve universal health coverage.
The regional office also donated medical equipment amounting to P24,100,046 million including a BHS package (fetal doppler, weighing scale with BMI calculator, examining table with stirrups, medicine cabinet, minor surgical set, EENT diagnostic set, weighing scale for infant, tabletop sterilizer and nursing kit), OR light, OR table, anaesthesia machine, ultrasound, two defibrillators, two suction machines, dental chair, cardiac monitor, delivery table, two ECG machines, portable X-ray, five adult wheelchairs and 5 pedia wheelchairs.
The Tubao BUCAS Center is an initiative of La Union 2nd District Congressman Dante S. Garcia and will be managed in partnership with the DOH – Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC).
Also in attendance during the inauguration and blessing were DOH Undersecretary Rosario S. Vergeire, ITRMC Medical Center Chief II Eduardo M. Badua III, La Union Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David, Vice Governor Mario Ortega, 2nd District Congressman Dante S. Garcia and Tubao Mayor Jonalyn G. Fontanilla-Piayas.
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