Right now, three vital health clinics in St. Louis County—serving thousands of low-income and working-class residents—are at risk of being shut down. County leaders are facing a budget crisis, but cutting off access to healthcare for our most vulnerable neighbors cannot be the solution.

These clinics, located in Berkeley, Pine Lawn, and south St. Louis County, are more than just buildings. They provide essential services like pediatric care, dental care, and OB/GYN support. Many patients who rely on them have no other options. Closing them would deepen health disparities and turn existing healthcare deserts into crisis zones.

Dr. Kanika Cunningham, Director of Public Health for the County, is urging leaders to keep these clinics open. As the only county in Missouri operating Federally Qualified Health Center “look-a-likes,” St. Louis County can receive reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare that help sustain the clinics. 

Time and again, the people of St. Louis County have voted to support public health. We believe that everyone deserves access to care, regardless of income or ZIP code. These clinics are lifelines for families who can’t wait in ER lines or afford private providers. If we close the doors now, we leave thousands behind.

We call on the St. Louis County Council and County Executive Sam Page to protect these three health clinics from closure. Budget fixes must not come at the expense of the sick, the poor, or the elderly. Invest in public health, not just to treat illness, but to uphold human dignity.

Sign this petition if you believe healthcare access is a right, not a luxury—and that St. Louis County should stand by the people who need it most.