Low Confidence in Latin American Healthcare, Government

Latin American countries are grappling with the COVID-19 crisis, and many people within those southern countries have had a wavering faith in their healthcare system and government since at least 2019.

Overall, according to a global Gallup poll, only 44 percent of those living in Latin American countries were satisfied with their current healthcare systems last year. An even smaller 36 percent had confidence in their national government. Brazil, Chile, Honduras and Venezuela rounded out the bottom of this list, with all countries having under 40 percent of their population satisfied with their healthcare systems. Even less were confident in their national governments, with all four countries falling below 35 percent.

The lack of proper healthcare systems and governmental response could have terrible consequences for people in Latin America fighting the COVID-19 virus. Venezuela, for example, has seen their government and healthcare system on the brink of collapse for years, and the coronavirus could easily be the catalyst to bring those systems crashing down. Other Latin American countries are close to being in similar situations, and a lack of trust in the healthcare systems and government could make containment nearly impossible.