The Department of Health (DOH) is looking to help capacitate doctors and nurses of Capitol-run hospitals in the province as part of the department’s new program called Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services or BUCAS program.
This was what DOH 7 director Dr. Jaime Bernadas told Gov. Gwen Garcia during a meeting at the Capitol on Tuesday, February 13.
The regional director relayed that their central office, under the guidance of newly confirmed DOH Sec. Ted Herbosa, is looking to establish at least 28 BUCAS centers all over the country by 2028 to improve healthcare access for millions of poor Filipinos.
A BUCAS center is a primary care facility that could be likened to an out-patient department (OPD) that also offers free medicines and services to indigent patients.
Dr. Bernadas said since the Capitol already has the facilities, the DOH would just capacitate health professionals so that they could offer more services, augment specialties, and widen the scope of health services coverage that they offer.
In Cebu Province, the Capitol operates 16 hospitals: 4 provincial hospitals and 12 district hospitals.
Gov. Garcia commended the DOH initiative and suggested to prioritize in the program the district hospitals located in the islands of Bantayan and Camotes.
Joining Dr. Bernadas were second district Board Member Doctor Stanley Caminero, Integrated Provincial Health Office head Dr. Rannie Gravador, and consultant Dr. Cristina Giango. | Mary Ann Malaya