Davao Region Launches Third Urgent Care Center in August

DAVAO CITY – The Davao Region is set to open its third Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) center at the Southern Philippines Medical Center-Marilog Hospital next month, expanding access to specialized medical services in the area.

According to Philippines news Agency, Director of the Department of Health in Davao Region (DOH-11), the new BUCAS Center, set to commence operations in August, joins the existing centers at Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City and Davao Occidental General Hospital in Malita town. The centers offer a range of outpatient services including family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, urgent care for triage and basic emergency services, patient transport, ancillary services, and ambulatory surgery.

Dr. Glinard Quezada, chief of DOGH Medical Center, highlighted the effectiveness of the existing centers, noting that over 120 minor surgeries have been performed at their facility since its inauguration last month. The center also recently expanded its services to include outpatient dental care, with a focus on pregnant patients. Quezada pointed out that funding for the center’s operations is sourced from the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) fund and the Konsulta comprehensive outpatient benefits package of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, ensuring its sustainability.

In alignment with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s health care strategy outlined in his State of the Nation Addresses, the DOH has been enhancing health infrastructure across the region. Yumang emphasized that these efforts are part of a broader government initiative to decentralize health services from the National Capital Region and improve health care access nationwide, particularly in remote areas.

The establishment of the third BUCAS center is also supported by the Health Facilities Enhancement Program, which has been instrumental in boosting capital investments in health facilities across the Davao Region, with a total of 1,375 government health facilities upgraded or established since 2021.