This afternoon, the New York City Council passed the Language Access in Pharmacies Act (LAPA) by a vote of 36-7, making New York City the first locality in the United States to require translation services in pharmacies.
With help from Speaker Quinn's office, Mayor Bloomberg and his administration, Councilmember Rivera and the Health Committee, Make the Road New York, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and her staff, New York City moved to protect nearly 2 million residents who would otherwise be put in danger when they take prescription medications.
Public Advocate Gotbaum said, "We all have a reason to be proud today. The Council's actions will make New York City a little safer for residents and citizens who speak foreign languages. This bill is practical, and it is humane."
What are actually the implications ? Will pharmacies have to provide interpretors (For whatever language) if clients requests it? Who will pay for it? The clients or the pharmacies ?
Alternatively, they could have passed a legislation instructing pharmacies to have translations of the medicines' package insert.
Posted by: Translator | August 22, 2009 at 01:35 AM