3 areas in Apayao eyed as sites for intermediate health facilities or BUCAS Centers

Luna, Apayao – Three areas in Apayao have been eyed as proposed sites for the establishment of Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Center, an intermediate health facility providing medical care such as minor surgeries and other ancillary services.

These include the Apayao Provincial Hospital Extension Clinic in Daga, Apayao, Amma Jadsac District Hospital Extension Clinic in Mataguisi Pudtol and Marag, Luna.

Said sites were personally visited by DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire and Regional Director Ferdinand Benbenen last week.

“A BUCAS Center is an intermediate health facility that aims to bridge the gap between primary care facilities (rural health units or city health centers) and higher level health institutions (hospitals) by providing urgent health care services (minor surgeries and other ancillary services) all throughout the week including weekends,” explained DOH-Cordillera, in an earlier report.

Minor surgeries, meantime, are procedures that can be done in an outpatient setting and do not need the utilization of general anesthesia and respiratory assistance.

In an interview, the Department of Health Cordillera revealed that only one of its kind is located in the region at present. This center is situated in Natonin, Mountain Province.

BUCAS Center project

The BUCAS Center project is part of the "28 for 28 by 28" agenda of DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.

The project targets to establish 28 BUCAS centers in the country by 2028, offering quality and accessible healthcare to 28 million Filipinos.