DOH: BUCAS centers have served almost 860,000 patients as of June 2025
DOH opens a Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Center in Rizal, Nueva Ecija on October 16, 2024. Photo: Department of Health
The Bagong Urgent Care Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Centers of the Department of Health (DOH) have assisted nearly 860,000 patients as of June 2025, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.
In a Palace press briefing on Thursday, Herbosa said that all 51 BUCAS centers nationwide continue to serve Filipinos by offering additional health services to avoid longer lines at DOH hospitals.
'Patunay po ito na mas mabilis na naihatid ng ating mga kababayan ang mga serbisyong medikal dahil noong March 2024 lang po tayo nagsimula… Ngayon, 26 na po ang operational sa Luzon, habang 8 sa Visayas at 17 sa Mindanao,' he shared.
(This proves that medical services are being immediately provided to Filipinos, since we only started in March 2024… Now, there are 26 operational in Luzon, while 8 are in Visayas and 17 are in Mindanao.)
The first BUCAS Center was opened in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga in March 6, 2024, in accordance with the Regional Specialty Centers Act to 'institutionalize the establishment of specialty and healthcare centers across the country.'
'May libreng gamot din po kaming binibigay sa BUCAS kagaya ng maintenance para sa high blood at diabetes. Mayroon din po kaming prenatal check-up para sa mga buntis, libreng bakuna at anti-rabies shot para sa mga nakagat ng hayop,' Herbosa said.
(There is also free medicine being given in BUCAS, such as maintenance for high blood and diabetes. There are also prenatal check-ups for pregnant women, free vaccinations and anti-rabies shots for those bitten by animals.)
'Ang BUCAS ay bahagi ng layunin ng DOH na mas maramdaman ng mga kababayan natin ang Universal Health Care dahil ang bilin po ng Presidente ay patas na access at komprehensibong serbisyong pangkalusugan ang nabibigay sa iba't ibang parte ng bansa,' he added.
(BUCAS is part of the DOH's advocacy to further bring Universal Health Care to Filipinos because the President has ordered equal access and comprehensive health services to be given to different parts of the country.) — BM, GMA Integrated News
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