The iLingua Institute and the University of Vigo (UVigo) are set to hold a significant event on 9 November at Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital in Vigo, focusing on the crucial role of interpretation and translation in healthcare. This initiative comes amid increasing international mobility, highlighting the need for effective communication across diverse populations.
Francisco Jesús Represas, Deputy Director of Humanisation and Citizen Care at the Vigo Health Area, emphasised the importance of addressing communication challenges between healthcare professionals and patients. He stated, “The Vigo Health Area serves a diverse population, and we must ensure that communication difficulties are met with appropriate resources.”
The event, titled the First Conference on Translation and Medical Matters, aims to bridge the gap between healthcare professionals and translation and interpretation students from UVigo. It will commence at 16:45 with a presentation by Maribel del Pozo and Tamara Varela, entitled 'From education to professional practice in translation and interpretation'. This will be followed by a roundtable discussion addressing linguistic and cultural barriers in healthcare.
Represas remarked, “Healthcare translation and interpretation should not be seen as supplementary resources, but as essential tools to ensure equity and accessibility in healthcare services.” Maribel del Pozo, a professor, added that “the profession of interpreters is not well-recognised, and much of the work in the healthcare sector is performed voluntarily or with minimal remuneration.”
From a management perspective, Represas highlighted the importance of equipping professionals with the necessary tools to navigate complex clinical information. He concluded, “Our commitment must focus on continually improving accessibility and responsiveness within the healthcare system.”
