Community Leaders Demand Action to Reopen Hospitals
Faith and community leaders are pressing for state intervention to reopen Weiss Memorial Hospital and West Suburban Medical Center. Their court battle over the hospitals’ futures continues.
Call for Governor’s Intervention
Rev. Robin Hood, a notable pastor and community activist from Chicago, urged Governor JB Pritzker to treat this situation as a public health emergency. Hood criticized the state’s failure to support affected families and seniors during a news conference held on Tuesday. He called for collaboration between the governor and the community to reopen the facilities.
Community leaders have requested a meeting with the governor’s office this week. Marc Kaplan, co-founder of Northside Action for Justice, demanded an immediate meeting with state officials responsible for resolving the crisis within 72 hours.
A spokesperson for the governor declined to confirm a meeting but stated that despite the state’s support, West Suburban and Weiss hospitals, being private entities, have not utilized resources or made formal requests to remain operational.
Legal Proceedings and Court Hearing
A news conference took place in front of the Daley Center shortly before a court hearing regarding the hospital closures. Tram Ma joined other activists at Daley Plaza on July 28, 2026, demanding action.
Weiss Hospital in Uptown closed in August after the federal government withdrew Medicare funding due to problems. West Suburban in Oak Park closed in March, with majority owner Dr. Manoj Prasad attributing the closure to billing system issues.
Ownership disputes have led to legal battles. Ramco Healthcare Holdings, led by Reddy Rathnaker Patlola, owns the properties and sued the operating company, Resilience Healthcare, claiming mismanagement. However, Cook County Circuit Judge Patrick Stanton denied placing the hospitals in receivership, expressing optimism for reopening based on a provisional settlement.
Since then, negotiations have stalled, prompting Ramco to request court enforcement or a receiver appointment. Resilience’s lawyer, Howard Brookins Jr., indicated limited time for reviewing recent documents following a hearing scheduled for Friday.
Criticism of Regulatory Decisions
Community leaders expressed frustration over the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board’s decision to extend Weiss’ service suspension by six months. The board initially allowed a one-year temporary suspension, now extended to preserve current conditions amid ongoing legal and regulatory conflicts.
Rev. Robin Hood criticized the board for prolonging the suspension without accountability. Board Chair Debra Savage refrained from commenting, as the issue remains under active consideration.