Advancing health equity through language access – a global imperative

Abstract

In this article, the authors outline the universal right to health, healthcare, and language access in healthcare, with a focus on policies and practices in the European Union and the United States. The authors spotlight contrasting views on whether language access should be considered a social determinant of health or an independent factor and assert that health equity is not achievable if language barriers are not systematically addressed in healthcare organisations and in the context of the individual care plan. Drawing from personal and professional experiences, and from a well-established body of medical research, the authors underscore what happens when language access infrastructure is not present in healthcare – with impacts to access and adherence, quality of care, and patient outcomes. The authors propose a language access framework to move healthcare organisations and the communities they serve towards health equity.