The Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Center in Mapandan town, the first in the province, offers free urgent care medical services to Pangasinenses.

The BUCAS Center, run and managed by the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC), provides outpatient services, such as medical consultation, dental services, X-ray, laboratory testing, and ambulatory surgical services.

In a phone interview on Tuesday, Department of Health (DOH) 1 (Ilocos Region) medical officer Dr. Rheuel Bobis said patients may avail of its free services under the zero balance billing policy.

He said there are similar centers in La Union and Ilocos Norte.

It was inaugurated last year, but the installation of medical equipment and machines needing necessary permits took time.

The BUCAS Center is designed to manage non-life-threatening but urgent medical conditions by providing consultations, minor procedures, laboratory services, and other ambulatory care, which helps decongest hospitals while ensuring that patients receive timely and quality treatment, according to DOH-1.

“Healthcare is closer. Healthcare is free,” DOH-1 Director Paula Paz Sydiongco said in a statement on Tuesday.

Primary healthcare facilities in the region will continue to be strengthened to ensure equity and access to healthcare services to achieve universal health coverage, she said.

R1MC Medical Center Chief Rolando Mejia said that no one should hesitate to seek care.

“We want to make this very clear: anyone who wishes to avail of the services of the BUCAS Center does not need to bring any money. All services here are completely free. Our mission is simple: no patient should delay treatment because of financial concerns,” he said.

The facility, formally opened on Feb. 28, is expected to significantly ease the burden on tertiary hospitals, such as R1MC, by managing walk-in urgent cases efficiently at the community level.

Residents of Mapandan and neighboring towns, including Manaoag, Urdaneta City, Sta. Barbara, and Calasiao, can now access quality urgent care services without traveling far or worrying about expenses, he said. (PNA)