DOH launches mobile clinics to boost access to primary healthcare

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa attends a sectoral meeting in Malacañang Palace on June 10, 2024. Ryan Baldemor, PPA pool/File

MANILA – The Department of Health on Wednesday touted the recent launch of its Bagong Pilipinas Mobile Clinics program which aims to ensure that Filipinos nationwide have access to quality primary healthcare.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said the DOH last weekend turned over the first seven of 83 mobile clinics to various local governments during a program in Malacanang. These will be deployed to far-flung and underserved communities of the provinces, he said. 

“Bus ito, coaster, pero nilagyan namin ng chemistry, laboratory, analyzer, hematology ultrasound, may ref din ito, may x-ray…

Sabi ko sa mga governor na nakatanggap nito kailangan every week meron kang schedule yan sa isang lugar,” Herbosa said in a televised briefing.

To ensure that funding for the program will be sustainable, Herbosa said that the mobile clinics would be attached to various hospitals.

“Pasasagot natin sa mga indigency funds at ikakabit natin sa mga ospital para may Philhealth para ma-cover din sya ng Philhealth para sustainable at continuous funding at magamit sa mga mahihirap,” he said.

Marcos Jr. wants more focus on provision of primary healthcare in the local level

Apart from the mobile clinics, the DOH Secretary said they launched earlier this year the “BUCAS,” or Bagong Urgent Care at Ambulatory Services, which were converted from Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities used for isolation during the COVID pandemic.

The DOH is operating a total of 22 BUCAS centers nationwide, and plans to open 80 more in the near future, Herbosa said.

“Iyong mga tao ko sa hospitals, sa hospitals kasi mayroon kaming family and community medicine na residency program. So iyong mga personnel ko doon, nilabas ko doon para ma-man ito at in-open ko siya from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” he said.

“Mas mahaba iyong hours, mas maraming chance iyong mga taga-community na magpatingin. Six o’clock pupunta sila doon, mapapagamot na nila iyong anak nila; within one hour, nakauwi na uli sila – papasok na sila sa trabaho.”

DOH halfway through its promised 28 health facilities for poor Filipinos