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03 Jun Data for trusting a medical translation boost in UK

In Okomeds we recently wrote about some shocking figures related to medical translation and interpreting. One of the examples made a reference to UK, the country all over the world that dedicates a bigger amount of public money to translators and interpreters – around £100 million a year. This shows a huge economical inversion and reveals that the UK has a growing market related to medical translation and interpreting which suggests a boost in a short period of time.

But, why does this country invest so much money? Basically because of multiculturalism. In the case of London, the biggest city, a recent census indicated that – within a population of 8.2 million inhabitants – only 45 per cent were considered themselves as white Britons. Immigration is very present in the United Kingdom, but specially in London, which means the need of medical translation and interpreting for those people which do not speak fluent English.

The diversity of its inhabitants is more evident now as London has its first Muslim mayor in history – Sadiq Khan – a Pakistani Shiite Muslim. He has promised to be «a Major for all Londoners«, so it includes all the nationals and foreigners. In other words, English speakers and non-speakers in the most important city in the United Kingdom. It could also mean a higher development in the medical translation and interpreting services. So hospitals and healthcare centres, the areas that take the greater slice in public money investment, maybe in luck. One of the issues facing multiculturalism is the language barrier. There are thousands of immigrants who can not speak English, so the need of a medical translation or interpreting service is essential. European languages – as Polish – and Asian languages – as Punjabi – take an important role in medical translation and interpreting.

Additionally, UK has a growing market for medical translation and interpreting, but not only at a local level. Some EU regulations include the need of a medical translation for scientific and researching purposes in order to spread worldwide, which affect many medical documents.

So, due to the population needs and the current researching process, medical translation and interpreting in the United Kingdom will play an even major role. And, if a developed country as UK is having a great translation and interpreting offer, a ripple effect will reach other countries sooner or later.