Care poverty reflects systemic failures in meeting essential care needs, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups. Structural inequalities, rather than individual vulnerabilities, limit access to both formal and informal care, deepening social, economic and health disparities. The burden falls especially on women, whose unpaid caregiving roles exacerbate gender and income inequalities, reinforcing intergenerational cycles of disadvantage. Social and economic inequalities significantly impact healthcare access, particularly during syndemics such as COVID-19, where chronic diseases and social vulnerabilities intersect to intensify health disparities. The syndemic framework highlights the interplay of biological and social factors, emphasizing the role of structural injustice and behavioural patterns, such as poor diets and environmental degradation, in exacerbating crises. Pharmacists emerge as key actors in promoting health equity, not only through care provision but also by counteracting stereotypes and prejudice. Addressing these biases, often unconscious and widespread, is essential for fostering inclusive, ethical and effective healthcare systems. The WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework promotes a biopsychosocial approach to health, emphasizing the interplay between individual, social and environmental factors in understanding illness. Applied to pharmacy, it redefines the pharmacist’s role as a relational mediator who considers patients’ lived experiences, not just clinical data. This model fosters inclusive, person-centred care, especially for those with chronic conditions, by integrating empathy, communication and contextual awareness into therapeutic practice. Rooted in Vygotsky’s theory of the zone of proximal development, this framework emphasizes the importance of guided interaction in fostering learning, autonomy and metacognition. Applied to healthcare, it repositions the patient as an active participant whose understanding can be scaffolded through empathetic, structured communication. This approach enhances therapeutic effectiveness by promoting self-efficacy, trust and active engagement in managing illness. The Pygmalion effect, demonstrated by Rosenthal and Jacobson, reveals how teacher or clinician expectations can influence individual performance and health outcomes. In healthcare, clinicians’ beliefs shape patient motivation and adherence, affecting recovery trajectories. Recognizing this effect is crucial to fostering balanced therapeutic relationships and optimizing care quality.

Pharmacy in Intercultural Contexts and in Educational and Cultural Inequalities

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发表日期：

2026年

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Sabina Leoncini

摘要

Care poverty reflects systemic failures in meeting essential care needs, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups. Structural inequalities, rather than individual vulnerabilities, limit access to both formal and informal care, deepening social, economic and health disparities. The burden falls especially on women, whose unpaid caregiving roles exacerbate gender and income inequalities, reinforcing intergenerational cycles of disadvantage. Social and economic inequalities significantly impact healthcare access, particularly during syndemics such as COVID-19, where chronic diseases and social vulnerabilities intersect to intensify health disparities. The syndemic framework highlights the interplay of biological and social factors, emphasizing the role of structural injustice and behavioural patterns, such as poor diets and environmental degradation, in exacerbating crises. Pharmacists emerge as key actors in promoting health equity, not only through care provision but also by counteracting stereotypes and prejudice. Addressing these biases, often unconscious and widespread, is essential for fostering inclusive, ethical and effective healthcare systems. The WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework promotes a biopsychosocial approach to health, emphasizing the interplay between individual, social and environmental factors in understanding illness. Applied to pharmacy, it redefines the pharmacist’s role as a relational mediator who considers patients’ lived experiences, not just clinical data. This model fosters inclusive, person-centred care, especially for those with chronic conditions, by integrating empathy, communication and contextual awareness into therapeutic practice. Rooted in Vygotsky’s theory of the zone of proximal development, this framework emphasizes the importance of guided interaction in fostering learning, autonomy and metacognition. Applied to healthcare, it repositions the patient as an active participant whose understanding can be scaffolded through empathetic, structured communication. This approach enhances therapeutic effectiveness by promoting self-efficacy, trust and active engagement in managing illness. The Pygmalion effect, demonstrated by Rosenthal and Jacobson, reveals how teacher or clinician expectations can influence individual performance and health outcomes. In healthcare, clinicians’ beliefs shape patient motivation and adherence, affecting recovery trajectories. Recognizing this effect is crucial to fostering balanced therapeutic relationships and optimizing care quality.