COVID-19 and language access in healthcare

As the COVID-19 pandemic keeps unfolding, it revealed yet again the importance of language barriers in healthcare and public health. As medical translators and small translation agency specialising in the medical field, we at eLoc saw this challenge unfold firsthand at the beginning of the pandemic here in Germany in the Spring.

When information becomes critical

A few weeks into the pandemics, around mid-April, local authorities faced an urgent need: how to reach everyone with important health and safety information related to COVID-19, regardless of their native language. Simple tasks like explaining mask requirements or describing symptoms became complex challenges when considering immigrant communities in the local population.

This is when we received requests to translate COVID-19 safety materials into multiple languages. These weren’t just routine translations – they were urgent messages that communities needed to stay safe and help slow down the spread of the virus. A local authority needed informational posters translated into multiple languages. These materials would explain: basic COVID-19 symptoms and how to identify them, when to seek medical help and how, how to properly wear masks, hygiene measures (washing your hands and using hand gel, for instance) and social distancing guidelines.

Looking back, it was both challenging and humbling. We were just one small part of a much larger effort at the peak of the health crisis in the Spring,

The hidden challenge of health communication

Many people don’t realize how language barriers affect access to healthcare information. Think about it: when was the last time you struggled to understand important health instructions or prevention materials? Did you ever have to go to the hospital while travelling abroad, not speaking the language and finding yourself very relieved to land a doctor or a nurse who speaks English, for example?

During COVID-19, this challenge became even more apparent. While German speakers could immediately understand that prevention information, many others had to wait for translations. Every day of delay meant people lacking access to important safety information.

Learning from past health crises

The COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t the first time language barriers affected public health. During the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, for example, lack of information in local languages led to misunderstandings about the disease and its prevention – which, in the particular case of Ebola, had dramatic consequences – you can read about it in my 2014 interview with Rebecca Petras from Translators without Borders, on the role of translators in the fight against Ebola.

These experiences keep teaching us an important lesson about language access in healthcare: vital information must be accessible to everyone from the start! Access to health information in one’s native language shouldn’t be an afterthought. It’s a basic need that affects people’s ability to understand health risks, follow safety guidelines, make informed decisions and access medical care when needed and appropriate.

Improving language access in healthcare

The pandemic has taught us valuable lessons about healthcare communication. We need to remember that clear health information in multiple languages isn’t just helpful or “nice to have” – it’s essential.

What many take for granted is that health information should be accessible to everyone. But the reality is far more complex. Every time there’s a new health protocol or safety measure, it needs to be accurately translated into dozens of languages. One mistranslation in medical instructions could have serious consequences. This isn’t just about literal translation—it’s about cultural adaptation and ensuring the message resonates with different communities.

The irony is that our success as medical translators is measured by our invisibility. When everything works smoothly, when every community receives and understands critical health information, nobody thinks about the translators who made it possible. In a way, we’re the hidden essential workers of public health communication.

My experience during the pandemic reinforced what I’ve always known: medical translation is essential. It’s not just about converting words from one language to another; it’s about ensuring access to important health information, prevention material, etc. for everyone.

So – the next time you see a multilingual healthcare-related leaflet, poster or booklet in various languages, remember that behind those translations are dedicated professionals working hard behind the scenes.

Stay safe and take care!

Image credits: license purchased on iStock