Reform LA Health is a call to action to address the disparity in healthcare and the shortage of physicians in Los Angeles county.

The number of physicians in many low socioeconomic communities in Los Angeles county is below the recommended ratio.

The communities with a severe shortage of doctors and lack of access to care have been disproportionately affected by the Coronavirus. Health inequities have led to higher morbidity/mortality rates amongst African Americans, Latinx, and other low-income communities making them more vulnerable to infections, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and higher infant/maternal mortality rates. They face significant disadvantages for early detection, delay in care and live a shorter life span (75 yrs) as compared to residents of affluent communities (90 yrs). An estimated 3,702,746 people in Los Angeles county live in areas with a shortage of doctors.

Los Angeles county with a population of more than 10 million has only 2 major medical schools whereas Costa Rica with a population of 4.25 million has 7 medical schools. 

Los Angeles county should establish a new independently run medical school to train the much-needed physicians and waive tuition for graduating doctors who commit to serve in areas with a shortage of physicians. This will present a viable solution to the disparity in access to health care in communities with a shortage of physicians and ultimately will save lives.

Given the current healthcare crisis, while the time has come to address the inefficiencies of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, there is greater need for a better and stronger healthcare system across the county. Now is the time to act, and please join us in making this more widely known by signing and sharing this petition. 

For more information, please visit our website at www.reformlahealth.com