ILLEGAL CLINICS: Orange County Moves to Educate, Provide Health Care
Playing catch-up in its efforts to combat unlicensed pharmacies, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday to "draw up a plan for warning residents away from back-room clinics." The Los Angeles Times reports that the board directed a coalition of health care advocates to draw up a five-year plan to combat the illegal clinics, emphasizing public education and improved access to health care as key components of a long-term solution. County officials were careful to stress that any "law-enforcement effort will be independent of the education effort, to avoid creating any mistrust among immigrants." America Bracho of Latino Health Access said one obstacle the coalition will have to tackle is how to address reaching "residents who may fear their immigration status will be hurt by seeking publicly supported medical care." Coalition members will meet with county Health Care Agency officials to work out how to operate and fund the program (Reyes, 3/10).
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