In a move to providing accessible, efficient and high-quality health care services for Cebuanos, the Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH Central Visayas CHD) has inked agreement with the Cebu South Medical Center, Gaisano Capital, The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). This collaboration was officially announced during the Year-End Media Thanksgiving and Press Conference held on December 12, 2024, at the Golden Prince Hotel and Suites, Cebu City.
The partnership introduces BUCAS, or Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services, a healthcare initiative by the DOH aimed at providing urgent care and ambulatory services. BUCAS centers are designed to offer immediate medical attention for non-life-threatening conditions, helping to alleviate congestion in public hospitals by offering services that do not require a full emergency room visit.
The first BUCAS center will be located within the Gaisano Capital Mall in Talisay City. This strategic location is expected to bring essential healthcare services closer to the community, with a wide range of outpatient services, including ambulatory and urgent care, minor surgical and non-surgical procedures, diagnostics, dental care, and primary healthcare.
Dr. Sophia Mancao, Assistant Regional Director of DOH Central Visayas CHD, highlighted the importance of this initiative in fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors to improve healthcare services. She emphasized that this partnership ensures better accessibility to healthcare and demonstrates a shared commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the healthcare sector.
The Gaisano Capital Mall in Talisay is donating a 600-square-meter space for the BUCAS center, free of charge. Several private partners will also contribute to the project, providing medical equipment, facility upgrades, and other forms of support to ensure the success of the initiative.
Jay Yuvallos, President of CCCI, stressed the role of the business sector in rallying support for this important initiative. He underscored the significance of addressing hospital overcrowding and improving access to healthcare for the Filipino community, especially for those who face difficulties in reaching hospitals.
The formalization of the partnership was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between key officials from both the DOH and CCCI. The signatories included Dr. Sophia Mancao and James S. Bernadas from the DOH, as well as CCCI President and Executive Director, Jay Y. Yuvallos and Joy Lorena Segismar, respectively.
With the first BUCAS center opening soon at Gaisano Capital Mall in Talisay, this collaboration represents a significant step toward improving healthcare delivery in Cebu, ensuring that quality medical services are within reach for more Cebuanos.
For more information about the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, please feel free to call the chamber at 232-1421 to 24 or visit https://cebuchamber.org/
Comments