Used in New Zealand, the “Pharmacy Translation Kit” has added 4 new languages.

We first reported on New Zealand’s “Pharmacy Translation Kit” when it came out in 2008.

The result of a research project sponsored by the N.Z. Pharmacy Guild and carried out by the University of Otago School of Pharmacy, the kit allows pharmacists to communicate crucial information, for example “Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine.”

Originally created in Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Maori, Samoan and Tongan, it is now available in Arabic, French, Spanish and Thai as well.

Over 3 years, the kit has apparently proven its worth.

“Guild President, Karen Crisp, says there are lots of stories about ways in which the kit has been needed, such as when patients don’t want a family member translating,” reports Voxy.co.nz. “The Guild has also heard that the Translation Kit proved a very useful tool with tourists during the Rugby World Cup and that it has assisted a surprising number of Japanese tourists on the West Coast of the South Island.”

Of course, the kit can never replace same-language dialogue between a pharmacist and a customer, but its “key phrase only” system provides certain clarity. There is little risk of error, since each language is color-coded, the phrases are organized in categories, and they always have the English version next to them.

Since it is highly unlikely that pharmacies will ever be able to provide multi-language interpreting services, this kit represents a big aid to both pharmacists and patients.

Betty Carlson

See Also

• Language Translation, Inc.
  A leading language translation and interpretation service provider for more than 20 years.