ILOILO — The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) and the local government unit of Batad are now laying the groundwork for the possible establishment of a Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) Center in the northern Iloilo town, a move seen to significantly improve healthcare accessibility and strengthen the province’s local health system.
The proposed healthcare facility, which is being eyed for funding under the Department of Health (DOH)-World Bank Health Systems Resilience Project, is currently in the planning, assessment, and coordination stage between provincial health officials and the Batad municipal government.
IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said discussions are ongoing as part of efforts to bring more accessible and resilient healthcare services closer to communities.
On May 5, Quiñon and personnel from the IPHO met with Batad’d Mayor Elvira Alarcon to discuss the proposed project and possible implementation plans.
“The meeting served as an important step toward collaborative planning and coordination among stakeholders to help ensure the successful implementation of the future healthcare facility. With continued partnership and support, we remain hopeful for a stronger and healthier future for the people of Batad,” the IPHO said in a statement.
A BUCAS Center is a healthcare facility operated and managed by a DOH hospital that provides a comprehensive range of primary care, urgent care, and ambulatory services.
The facility is part of the DOH’s strategic initiatives under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act or Republic Act 11223 aimed at improving healthcare access while reducing the burden on overcrowded hospitals.
BUCAS Centers are designed to improve equitable access to quality outpatient and urgent care services, decongest hospitals by handling ambulatory-sensitive conditions, strengthen primary care and referral systems, and deliver accessible and cost-effective healthcare services.
Health officials noted that the establishment of BUCAS Centers addresses persistent health system gaps in the country, including limited hospital bed capacity, overcrowding in hospitals, and barriers to healthcare access due to distance, affordability, and lack of available services.
The centers function as intermediate healthcare facilities capable of managing non-life-threatening but urgent medical conditions, providing same-day diagnostic and treatment services, and serving as entry points within the Health Care Provider Network.
Among the key features of a BUCAS Center are outpatient-focused care, multidisciplinary and team-based healthcare delivery, integration of preventive and rehabilitative services, emergency stabilization capability, and the use of telemedicine and digital health systems./PN
