Do the right thing

Central Los Angeles has been without a hospital for too long, and the community has suffered. We hope that the upcoming vote by the University of California Regents will pave the way to redress this absence of medical attention in this part of the city.

Next Tuesday, the Regents will decide if UCLA will take charge of the management of this new chapter in the history of Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital. The University would provide the physician staffing for the center, including the residents.

For some it is arguable whether the University of California should devote its attention and resources to an activity which seems to be outside the field of education while, at the same time, it is unable to admit all the students that want to enroll and it is forced to raise tuition and fees.

We believe, however, that as public university which operates a teaching hospital, it is well within its scope of responsibilities. As a public institution, it also has an inescapable obligation to serve the city’s most vulnerable communities.

At the same time, the financial issues of greatest concern to the university have been addresed. In reality, everything is ready for the Regents to approve the deal. Los Angeles County has committed $353 million on construction and $63 million annually to operate the non-profit 120-bed hospital. In addition, the Family Foundation of Los Angeles pharmaceutical billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong will provide a $100 million guarantee to satisfy the demands made by the Regents in order to consider this move.

The closing of Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital, which was a terribly managed, left a void in this primarily African-American and Latino low-income community. The situation was unacceptable and continued for far too long. The Regents hold in their hands the power to fill this void and help the county. We hope they do the right thing.

Central Los Angeles has been without a hospital for too long, and the community has suffered. We hope that the upcoming vote by the University of California Regents will pave the way to redress this absence of medical attention in this part of the city.

Next Tuesday, the Regents will decide if UCLA will take charge of the management of this new chapter in the history of Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital. The University would provide the physician staffing for the center, including the residents.

For some it is arguable whether the University of California should devote its attention and resources to an activity which seems to be outside the field of education while, at the same time, it is unable to admit all the students that want to enroll and it is forced to raise tuition and fees.

We believe, however, that as public university which operates a teaching hospital, it is well within its scope of responsibilities. As a public institution, it also has an inescapable obligation to serve the city’s most vulnerable communities.

At the same time, the financial issues of greatest concern to the university have been addresed. In reality, everything is ready for the Regents to approve the deal. Los Angeles County has committed $353 million on construction and $63 million annually to operate the non-profit 120-bed hospital. In addition, the Family Foundation of Los Angeles pharmaceutical billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong will provide a $100 million guarantee to satisfy the demands made by the Regents in order to consider this move.

The closing of Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital, which was a terribly managed, left a void in this primarily African-American and Latino low-income community. The situation was unacceptable and continued for far too long. The Regents hold in their hands the power to fill this void and help the county. We hope they do the right thing.

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