Philippine E-Journals

“The Daily Life of the Poor is Death”: The Poor in the Midst of Covid-19 Pandemic and the Catholic Church’s Teaching on Health Care

Jerry D. Imbong

 

Abstract:

This paper is divided into three parts: The first part deals with the socio-economic problems that the poor are facing in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The second part analyzes the present condition of the Philippine health care system. Using a “materialist” approach to the sociology of health, the category of ‘class’ is employed as an analytical tool in dissecting health inequalities. In so doing, this paper hopes to provide a critical understanding of the condition of our health care system. It also argues that class structure and inequality are at the roots of inefficient health care in the country. Finally, it offers a critical evaluation of our health care system from the vantage point of the church teaching on health and the recent pronouncements of Pope Francis.