Medical tourism means demand for translators

17-Oct-2007

Hospitals in India are increasingly taking on foreign language translators to meet the needs of the growing number of medical tourists opting for treatment in the country.

According to Indian newspaper The Hindu, some hospitals have appointed translators covering various nations, including Arabic and African languages.

Mallika Mohandas, chairwoman for MIOT Hospitals, Manapakkam, said that they have interpreters from Sudan, as well as for Sinhala and French.

"During the peak season of June, July and August, about 15-20 per cent of our patients are foreigners," Ms Mohandas revealed.

"It ranges from 10 to 12 per cent the rest of the year," she added.

However, around 90 per cent of patients attending Indian hospitals tend to understand English and Ravi Ramalingam, managing director of KKRENT Hospital, told the Hindu that they "sometimes have more problems communicating with patients from neighbouring states …than with patients from abroad".

India has become one of the world's leading medical tourism destinations thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities and highly skilled medical personnel, many of whom have trained and worked in the UK.