Private entities, led by pharmaceutical firm Unilab, and the Department of Health have joined forces to deliver primary health care at the community level by enhancing the PuroKalusugan program and opening Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) centers in underserved areas across the country.

“We are championing primary health care at the Purok level… we are changing directions; we are opening the BUCAS centers in various parts of the Philippines,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said during his address at the recently held Unilab Foundation Partners’ Night at the Novotel Araneta Center.

Herbosa told a crowd of health and academic professionals, civil society leaders, and local government officials that the DOH has accelerated the establishment of BUCAS centers in partnership with the private sector.

“When I started last year, we said we would build 28 BUCAS centers for the 28 million poorest Filipinos by 2028. Nine months later, I have 46 BUCAS centers all over the country, all led by our medical center chiefs, without spending additional money because it was funded through fiscal autonomy,” he said.

The BUCAS centers complement the PuroKalusugan program, where barangay health workers and purok leaders conduct house-to-house visits, identifying individuals who need medical care, immunizations, and follow-up checkups.

The approach ensures that infants receive vaccinations, seniors get proper medications, and individuals with chronic illnesses receive ongoing medical attention.

On the financial side, Herbosa noted that the DOH continues to increase all Philhealth benefit packages, including the acute myocardial infarction package and dialysis, which is now at P6,350 per session for 156 sessions per year, up from the previous P2,500 per session.

Herbosa emphasized that these initiatives can be more successful with the collaboration of the private sector, particularly highlighting the Unilab Center for Health Policy (UCHP) for their “strong partnership with the Department of Health.”

“Your work on research, policy, and innovation has complemented our efforts to bring UHC (Universal Health Care) to a tangible reality for every Filipino. Your commitment to undertake bold, essential initiatives, such as the establishment of the One Hospital Command Center and the patient navigation system in the National Capital Region, is both commendable and deeply valued,” he said.

“These initiatives reflect the kind of thinking we need: strategic systems thinking rooted in real-world needs. I’m very glad the Unilab Center for Health Policy is also working alongside the Philippine College of Emergency Medicine and other institutions to bring these ideas to life,” Herbosa added.

The enhanced patient navigation system will include real-time data utilization, centralization, strengthened coordination, and improved staff capabilities, ensuring that Filipinos receive timely access to necessary medical services.

The initial step is developing a comprehensive roadmap aligned with the DOH guidelines and the Universal Health Care Integration System (UHCIS).

"As Secretary of Health, I’m constantly reminded that strengthening the health system is not something the Government can do alone. It takes all of us working across sectors, sharing knowledge, and aligning our goals to make health for all a reality," Herbosa stated.