Manila - The Department of Health (DOH) has significantly expanded access to healthcare services in the Philippines through the introduction of Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) centers and the deployment of mobile clinics. This initiative is part of a broader effort to deliver quality healthcare closer to communities, especially those in remote areas.
According to Philippines News Agency, local government units historically struggle with the management capacity and funding necessary to maintain adequate healthcare services. "80 to 90 percent of the mayors do not have management capacity and 80 to 90 percent of municipalities are classified as fifth or sixth class that do not have funds for salaries of doctors and nurses and for the purchase of medicines," Herbosa explained. In response, the national government has stepped in to support, contributing PHP400 billion over the last decade to enhance local health facilities. Despite this, there remains a shortage of medical professionals and equipment.
The BUCAS centers, first launched on March 6 in Santo Tomas, Pampanga, now number 22 across the nation, with over 70 more planned. These centers are designed to provide comprehensive healthcare services, including surgeries and reproductive health, supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic labs. Herbosa highlighted the benefits of national management over local, citing the instability caused by political changes every three years as detrimental to consistent healthcare provision.
Further supporting the healthcare infrastructure, the DOH, in collaboration with First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, has started distributing mobile clinics, with seven already provided to provincial governors in Central Luzon as of June. These clinics are well-equipped with advanced medical technologies like CT-Scans and digital X-rays, aiming to enhance preventive care and health access in underserved areas.
In legislative developments, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. enacted the Regional Specialty Centers Act in August 2023, mandating the DOH to create specialized healthcare facilities nationwide. This is complemented by a PHP1.2 billion budget allocation for expanding the network of specialty centers, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to improving healthcare access and quality across the Philippines.