ILOILO — The Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 is ramping up its campaign for the public to utilize Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) centers, positioning them as a key solution to chronic emergency room (ER) congestion and delayed care in Western Visayas.
Health officials said the underutilization of these facilities could undermine efforts to streamline patient flow and deliver faster, more efficient medical services, particularly for non-life-threatening but urgent conditions.
The BUCAS centers, a relatively new initiative, are designed to bridge the gap between hospital Emergency Rooms (ER) and Outpatient Departments, allowing patients to receive immediate medical attention without the need for hospital admission.
Dr. Edene Jamoyot, Medical Officer III at the Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital (WVSGH) in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, stressed the critical role of these centers in decongesting hospitals and expediting care.
“Ang BUCAS Center isa ka espesiyal nga pasilidad sa hospital nga nagahatag sang madali kag dekalidad nga serbisyo medikal para sa mga pasyente nga gakinahanglan sang gilayon nga bulig pero indi kinahanglan i-admit sa hospital. Ini amo ang tulay nga nagakonekta sang emergency room kag outpatient department nga nagahatag sang dasig, integrated, kag patient-centered nga serbisyo sa mga pasyente nga indi emergency pero indi man dapat nga pahulaton naton,” said Dr. Jamoyot.
DOH-6 underscored that many ERs in the region remain overwhelmed, often resulting in long waiting times even for patients who do not require admission — an issue BUCAS centers are specifically designed to address.
Dr. Stephanie Abello, officer-in-charge and Medical Center Chief II of WVSGH, described the initiative as a major upgrade to the region’s healthcare delivery system.
“Madasig ang pagresponde, pagtatapap, kag pagpauli sang mga pasyente. Convenient man sa aton nga pasyente nga indi na sila mag pila sa ER,” said Dr. Abello.
Launched in 2024, the BUCAS program aims to serve up to 28 million marginalized Filipinos by 2028, targeting those who face barriers to timely healthcare access.
These centers provide a range of essential services for urgent but non-critical conditions, including free laboratory tests, diagnostic services, minor surgical procedures, and the dispensing of essential medicines—helping patients avoid costly and time-consuming hospital admissions.
In Western Visayas, BUCAS Centers are already operational at the Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital in Barangay Inangayan, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo; the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City; and the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in Barangay Lanot, Roxas City, Capiz./PN
