Marcos gives over P500M to PHC, NKTI, LCP

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Tuesday provided check donations worth almost P520 million to various medical institutions to fund more medical projects for Filipinos.

The aid was given to the Philippine Heart Center (PHC), the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI). 

The PHC obtained P200.5 million, while LCP got P185.2 million, and P134 million to the NKTI.

In his speech at the inauguration of the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service Center (BUCAS), Marcos acknowledged that the PHC has been a symbol of hope and excellence in healthcare.

“So, despite the challenges, you continue to persevere and to innovate, showing both passion and compassion. This is the reason why we granted the PHC 200.5 million pesos that it can use to fund more projects that will benefit the Filipino people,” Marcos said.

The PHC was established in 1975 under Presidential Decree No. 673.

“It was my father’s vision to create a place where top-notch medical care was delivered with dignity and with compassion. It was my mother’s driving force behind the specialty centers in the country,” the President said.

The Chief Executive highlighted his administration’s vision of a future where “every Filipino, no matter where they live, has access to the urgent care that they need. A future where our healthcare system is proactive, not just reactive.”

“That future was made more possible by the PHC’s Education, Training and Research Simulation Facility, which is a first in the Philippines. It mimics realistic clinical scenarios for teaching and learning, allowing for better training for our healthcare workers,” Marcos said.

Meanwhile, the BUCAS Center aims to bridge the gap between primary care facilities, such as rural health units or city health centers, and higher-level health institutions or hospitals by providing urgent health care services for minor surgeries and other ancillary services.

“This ensures that focus shall be given to patients needing special care, while still providing proper medical services for those with less complicated cases,” Marcos said. 

The President said there are 31 BUCAS Centers nationwide as of September 2024. —VAL, GMA Integrated News