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ORANGE COUNTY SEEKS TO ELIMINATE UNDERGROUND MEDICAL CLINICS CATERING TO IMMIGRANTS
The Orange County, California, Board of Supervisors has authorized the creation of a plan designed to combat unlicensed health clinics that sell illegal pharmaceuticals. The plan is to be developed by a team of public and private organizations, and will be in effect for five years. 
The drive to address illegal health clinics has gained growing momentum in the past year, following the death of a toddler from a series of injections administered by an unlicensed physician. At the end of February another child died in similar circumstances, after receiving an injection of what her parents were told was penicillin. 
According to Susan Banuelos Smith of the Orange County Safe Healthcare Coalition, a group formed in response to the first reports of deaths at the illegal clinics, there are at least two areas that need discussion and reformation: first, education, and second, improved access to healthcare in the immigrant community. The program she has proposed includes public service announcements and community outreach programs to work in conjunction with other programs immigrants use, such as English language classes.
All involved with the program understand the importance of keeping the law enforcement effort separate from the education efforts to avoid creating mistrust among the immigrant community. One problem that has created the growth of underground clinics is the uncertainty of the impact on immigration status of seeking health care. California has already sought clarification from the federal government of the impact of immigration status of participation in its Medical program, designed to provide healthcare to children.