Interpreters in Indian hospitals: what to ask before you travel

Do not assume an interpreter will be there. The official Indian and accreditation texts we read do not promise one in your language. Ask each hospital in writing who will interpret, in which language, at which moments of care, and whether that person has medical training. Get the answer before you book flights.

Do Indian rules require a hospital to provide an interpreter?

We did not find such a rule. India’s Charter of Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities, as updated in August 2021, lists a right to adequate information about the illness and the proposed care. It also lists a right to informed consent before specific tests and treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy. It does not mention interpreters.

The charter names language in other places. Rates and the grievance officer’s contact details are to be displayed in the local language and in English. Linguistic origin is among the grounds on which a patient should not face discrimination in treatment. Use the charter as a guide to what to ask for, not as a promise from any one hospital.

What do accreditation standards say about language?

JCI’s standards for ambulatory care, in the edition effective from July 2019, are clear on this point. They ask for informed consent in a manner and language the patient can understand. They ask the same for information on patient rights. They also ask organisations to seek to reduce language barriers. That edition covers ambulatory care. We did not read JCI’s hospital edition.

NABH’s hospital standards, 6th edition, say a discharge summary should give follow-up advice, medication and other instructions in an understandable manner. We could read only part of that document, and we found no wording on interpreters in that part. So a certificate is a starting point. It does not answer the question for your language.

When does the patient most need an interpreter?

Everyday matters can often be managed with gestures and patience. These moments cannot:

• The first consultation, when the diagnosis and treatment plan are explained
• Informed consent, including the risks and the alternatives
• Any change to the plan during the stay
• Discharge, when medicines and follow-up are explained
• Any complaint or disagreement about care or a bill

What should we ask the hospital in writing?

Name your language in the first message, whether it is Arabic, Russian, Bengali, French or another. For Arabic, name your country too, and ask whether the interpreter is comfortable with the way you speak. Then ask:

• Is the interpreter employed by the hospital or brought in from outside?
• What medical training or experience does this person have?
• Will the same person be present at consent and at discharge?
• What happens at night, at weekends or in an emergency?
• If no one is available in person, can someone interpret by telephone or video?
• Is there a charge for this service?
• Will the consent form be translated, or read aloud to us?
• Will the discharge summary be available in our language?
• Can a woman interpret for a female patient if the family asks?
• What confidentiality rules does the interpreter follow?

A vague reply such as “we have staff who can help” is not yet an answer. Ask for the name of the role, and ask who to call on the day.

Can a family member interpret instead?

A relative can help with meals, directions and daily needs. Consent and difficult news are different. A relative may not know the medical words. A relative may also soften hard news out of love, or answer for the patient. Children should not be asked to carry this.

If a relative must interpret, ask the treating team to speak in short sentences and to check that the patient has understood. Ask the hospital whether it will accept a relative’s help at consent, or whether it requires someone else.

Can we bring our own interpreter from home?

Ask before you plan on it. The official e-Visa portal lists the e-Medical Attendant visa for people travelling as attendant to an e-Medical visa holder. Only two are granted against one e-Medical visa. The portal does not mention interpreters, and it does not define who may be an attendant. Ask the Indian mission in your country before you apply. Ask the hospital too whether it will allow this person in consultations.

How can we make each conversation easier?

• Write your questions down before each meeting and have them translated
• Ask the interpreter to repeat the plan back in your language, then repeat it yourselves
• Note medicine names and follow-up dates as the doctor says them
• Ask for copies of case papers, reports and the itemised bill, which the charter lists as a patient right
• Ask early if something is unclear, and ask again if you need to

If language is a worry for your family, tell us at the start. You can mention it when you ask for a free case review.