Forum: Language support in healthcare settings essential for migrant workers

We thank Sudesna Roy Chowdhury for her letter “Language services should be a standard of medical care, not an act of goodwill” (Sept 29).

At Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), we strongly share the writer’s view that language support for migrant worker patients in hospitals remains inadequate. Through our work assisting injured migrant workers with Work Injury Compensation Act claims, we frequently hear from worker patients who could not understand their doctor’s diagnosis or felt deterred from asking questions about their treatment because of language barriers.

Related to this issue, doctors often rely on employer representatives, such as safety supervisors, to act as ad hoc interpreters. While convenient, this practice introduces a potential conflict of interest in work injury cases. Injured workers regularly tell us that narratives of how the work accident happened, and key clinical decisions, such as whether medical leave is issued, are sometimes influenced by the employer’s views during consultations, while the worker is effectively excluded because of the language barrier.

To address these issues, TWC2 operates a Hospital Accompaniment Team, a small group of seasoned volunteers who accompany workers to medical appointments and provide support as needed. Every accompaniment reminds us how crucial it is for patients to assert full agency during their medical consultations.

Clear communication helps workers understand their prognosis and recovery milestones, builds confidence and trust in medical professionals, and significantly reduces patient anxiety. However, as the writer pointed out, volunteer resources are limited and cannot be a substitute for systematic care.

Singapore’s court system is a helpful example, where professional interpreters are routinely provided to ensure fairness and accurate communication. A similar approach in healthcare would go a long way in safeguarding patient autonomy, confidentiality and informed consent.

While translation apps and artificial intelligence tools can assist with simple interactions, they cannot replace proper and neutral interpretation in complex clinical settings.

Hospitals should not bear this burden alone. Government leadership is crucial. After all, safeguarding migrant workers’ medical well-being is part of the duty of care assumed by the whole society that benefits from their labour.

Mizue Sauco
Legal Officer
Transient Workers Count Too