Press Release | 26 June 2024

The Department of Health (DOH), through the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH), welcomed the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines, Mr. Lee Sang-Hwa to the first Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) center in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga.

The BUCAS center at JBLMGH Ambulatory Surgical and Multispecialty Center (JASMC) provides a comprehensive range of healthcare services, including ambulatory and urgent care surgeries, family medicine services, pediatric care, on-site pharmacies, and laboratory services. Internal medicine and family planning services are provided as well, focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases, as well as family planning and spacing of children for better health outcomes.

Accompanying the Ambassador were Counsellor Kwon Soon Hyun, Infrastructure Attaché Choi Yong Hyun, and Vice Consul Kim Myung Hoon. Notable dignitaries who joined included Pampanga 4th District Representative Dr. Anna York Bondoc, Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, Mayor John Sambo of the Municipality of Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, DOH Central Luzon Center for Health Development Regional Director Dr. Corazon Flores, and JBLMGH Medical Center Chief Dr. Monserrat Chichioco.

Ambassador Lee expressed his gratitude to the Philippines for the alliance of the two nations, and acknowledged the commendable primary care services provided by the BUCAS Center. Impressed by its capacity to enhance healthcare delivery, he also offered support to the Philippines by sharing healthcare advancements from South Korea, fostering collaboration and furthering advancements in healthcare services for the benefit of both nations.

“The DOH continues to monitor and evaluate the performance of all established BUCAS Centers to ensure that more Filipinos will receive quality and equitable access to healthcare. We extend our gratitude to the Republic of Korea for offering help for the advancement of healthcare services in the Philippines. We are optimistic that this collaboration with our partner nations catalyzes our efforts to achieve Universal Health Care tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas, kung saan Bawat Buhay Mahalaga,” expressed Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa.