Workforce Language Services

In April, the Workforce Language Services blog posted an article about how language barriers at pharmacies can prove dangerous for non-English speakers in New York City.

CVS and Rite-Aid recently announced that they will provide translations into six major languages of prescription information.  The Newsday.com article mentions the probe that the Mayor’s office launched along with an advocacy organization:

 Cuomo’s office launched an undercover investigation after Make the Road by Walking New York, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that advocates for low-income New Yorkers, complained that pharmacies “routinely fail to advise non-English-speaking customers in a language that allows them to understand the purpose, dosage and side effects of their medications,” according to the release.

State law requires pharmacists to “personally provide information about prescription drugs to all patients, orally and in writing,” the release said.

The article also mentions that “spoken translations” will also be provided in these six languages.  Unfortunately, there are no further details about exactly how these spoken translations will be disseminated.  Will they have recordings?  Increasing their bilingual pharmacy staff?