Decongestion of VSMMC goal of SugBUCAS centers

CEBU, Philippines — With the establishment of two Sugbo Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service Centers (SugBUCAS) in Cebu, the Department of Health (DOH)-7 hopes it would further help decongest some of the hospitals in the province and would make healthcare services more accessible to communities.

DOH-7 regional director Jaime Bernadas, in the recent Kapihan sa PIA forum, shared about the SugBUCAS centers in Cebu that were opened in April this year in Carcar City and Bantayan Island.

The centers aim to help hospitals that are at capacity and to ensure healthcare is within easier reach for the people, particularly those in farther communities.

“(This) is to address the problems on personnel health professionals ug facilities ug ang uban pod na problema sa kapuno sa atong mga DOH hospitals. Busa nag-establish ta og BUCAS centers,” said Bernadas.

This initiative was made possible through a tripartite collaboration between the Cebu Provincial Government, DOH-7, and the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).

Central Visayas now has the most number of SugBUCAS and BUCAS Centers in the Philippines, with two more in the municipality of Trinidad and Tagbilaran City in Bohol.

With the four BUCAS centers, DOH-7 hopes it will decongest VSMMC in Cebu and the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center in Tagbilaran, Bohol.

Bernadas said they aim to deploy medical healthcare professionals to these centers, who can thoroughly monitor patients.

“Ang key ana kay tungod makapadala ta og mga personnel na maka augment didto ug maka attend sa pasyente 24/7...kung naay kinahanglan operahan kay operahan sad didto pinaagi sa atong BUCAS Center,” Bernadas said.

The services provided in the centers include primary care, emergency and ambulatory care, surgical services, specialized procedures for patients with chronic diseases, epidemiology and surveillance, and health emergency response.

This reflects the health department’s 8-point action agenda, “Bawat Pilipino Ramdam ang Kalusugan,” which aims to improve health outcomes, enhance healthcare delivery, and reduce high-level hospital admissions.

“In return, mahimo siyang accessible sa mga layo na lugar aron di na siya mangita pa og hospital, and maminusan sad ang pagkapuno sa atong high-level hospital. Mao ni siya ang tuyo gyud aron maibanan ang clogging sa atong mga dagko na hospitals,” Bernadas stated.

This mission was initiated by DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who envisioned establishing 28 BUCAS Centers by 2028 to resolve the primary healthcare needs of the 28 million poorest citizens in the country.

During the first inauguration of SugBUCAS Center in Central Visayas, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa amplified his vision for the first launching of the center.

“The SugBUCAS shall address the missing link in the healthcare pathway, decongest hospitals acting as point-of-contact; and pave the way for the implementation of primary care in communities,” Herbosa said. — Donna Rose Egos /ATO (FREEMAN)