Language barriers in Canadian pharmacies: A review of interpretation services and health equity gaps in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Abstract

Despite the Canada Health Act's emphasis on "reasonable access" to care, many newcomer patients for whom English is a second language face communication barriers when seeking medical treatment in Canada. This barrier is especially prevalent in Canadian pharmacies, where interpretation services are often limited or non-existent. With the expanding scope of pharmacy practice across Canadian provinces, accurate translation of clinical concerns and medication instructions is crucial to ensure patients' health and safety.Interpretation services in medical settings are inconsistently implemented nationwide, with British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario offering comparatively strong interpretation service models. While Newfoundland and Labrador offer interpretation in public health facilities via Remote Interpretation Ontario (RIO), this platform is currently unavailable in privately owned and community-based pharmacies. Integrating provincially funded platforms like RIO into all pharmacies, with the cost covered by public funding to eliminate financial barriers for smaller businesses, would improve healthcare quality and equity for Canada's rapidly diversifying population.