Health Care Disparities in Central California

Our communities in central California face systemic problems, lack of access, and health inequities, which means that many people struggle with diseases such as sexually transmitted infections, diabetes, and kidney disease.

Daniela Rodriguez, reporter for Radio Bilingüe and UC Berkeley fellow, gives us more details.

The Central California Public Health Consortium has just released its Regional Health Equity Analysis 2025, a study that reveals profound inequalities in health care faced by millions of families in the Central Valley.

Yesenia Silva Aguilar, a representative of the consortium, explains why this report is so relevant, especially for the central region of California.

“It reveals very important health-related issues. As you know, Central California is home to more than 4.5 million people with a diverse and young population, and one in four residents is under the age of 15.”

The report covers a total of 12 counties in this area, including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, and several others. According to Yesenia, these counties face similar challenges, such as lack of access to doctors, low income, and environmental conditions that affect health.

The report also shows that life expectancy in the region is 2.3 years lower than in other California counties, and that many of the deaths are due to preventable causes, such as diabetes and liver disease.

“Three out of four people are obese. Two out of five have high blood pressure. One in six people have asthma, one in six have diabetes, and one in thirteen have heart problems. These problems lead to frequent hospitalizations, financial hardship, and emotional stress for families.”

The report also warns of health problems that we rarely read about in the headlines, such as sexually transmitted infections and environmental diseases resulting from the increasing number of people exposed to pesticides and air pollution.

“There’s also Valley Fever, which occurs 164 percent more often than in other counties, and West Nile virus, which is 85 percent more prevalent here in our region. Extreme heat also leads to more emergency room visits, especially among older adults and outdoor workers. These are statistics that many may have heard before. But what our report highlights is that these are systemic problems.”

One of the most alarming findings is the lack of access to doctors and healthcare providers, a huge challenge compared to other counties in the state.

“In central California, we have fewer doctors. This includes general practitioners, dentists, and mental health providers. These ratios are more than 40 percent worse than in other counties.”

The economic factor also weighs heavily on health. According to the report, the average income in the region is $15,000 less than in other areas of California. Added to this gap is the high unemployment rate of nearly 41 percent in the Central Valley.

“It’s money that makes a difference in what kind of food someone can buy, whether it’s healthy or not. How many bills we can actually pay. That can determine whether someone goes to the doctor or not, having that money available.”

In an area other than health, the report notes that civic engagement is low: only 32 percent of eligible voters participated in the last general election, reducing the region’s ability to influence policies that affect health.

Faced with this reality, the Central California Public Health Consortium is making an urgent appeal.

“It’s not that people don’t want to be healthy. It’s that the system doesn’t give them the same opportunities as in other places. And understanding this allows us to create effective and lasting solutions.”

Finally, Yesenia emphasizes that solutions must come from within the community itself, and that people must stay informed and speak up to raise awareness and mobilize action.

“More than anything, local people know their challenges best, and their voices should guide the solutions. By working together, we can build a healthier and more equitable Central California.”

The 2025 Regional Health Equity Analysis is now available online with an interactive dashboard that breaks down the measurable data by county.

Many thanks to Daniela Rodriguez, reporter for Radio Bilingüe and UC Berkeley fellow, for this report.