Pharmacies embrace free interpreting service
5 February 2009
More than 1000 pharmacies now have free access to telephone interpreting services helping pharmacists across Australia explain vital information on medicines and dosage to non-English speakers, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services Laurie Ferguson, said today.
Under this new government initiative, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship provides free telephone interpreting to pharmacies through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) to help them communicate with culturally and linguistically diverse Australians about PBS medications.
The expansion of the department’s free telephone interpreting service to pharmacies is a major initiative in ensuring the community has access to language appropriate healthcare.
‘The use of telephone interpreters allows pharmacists to clearly explain the proper use of medications to non-English speakers who may be unfamilar with medications or treatments,’ Mr Ferguson said.
‘It is critical that clients understand the dosage of medicine they should take, and the freqency of that dosage.
‘Interpreters can assist pharmacists to clearly explain this information to non-English speaking customers.
‘Members of the Australian community who are not confident in English must have access to the same level of healthcare as those who speak fluent English,’ the parliamentary secretary said.
General practitioners and specialists in private practice already have access to free interpreting through TIS National.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia supported the move to include pharmacies and refugee health nurses.
TIS National provides telephone interpreting services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has interpreters speaking more than 160 languages and dialects.
Further information about TIS National can be found at www.immi.gov.au/tis or by calling 1300 655 820.
Media contact: Carla Wilshire 0432 755 935
URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au
/parlsec/media/media-releases/2009/lf09007.htm
Last update: 22 September 2009 at 10:11 AEST