Language Barriers in Healthcare

In the wake of globalization, millions of immigrants have travelled to new countries and spread their cultural beliefs abroad. As the amount of migrants increase abroad, the need for proper healthcare policies and quality of care for migrants has increased. Language barriers in particular, have been a difficult issue to address in many countries. Simply providing an interpreter is no longer effective; patients should have better channels of communication with their physician in order for each party to clearly communicate with each other. For example, the word “cancer” can easily be translated into other languages, however its meaning within cultures can be more complex and disconcerting. Understanding that these barriers can greatly impact a patients health decisions and overall treatment is

the first step to this complex problem. Governments should provide more informed training for both their physicians and interpreters in order to insure proficient medical care. Difference in individual’s languages should not affect their overall health outcomes. These healthcare disparities can influence how immigrants perceive healthcare. Immigrants should not feel weary about accessing medical help because of the language barriers they may face, especially during these unprecedented times.