Jun Li

Bridging Language Barriers in Healthcare: A Global Perspective

Jun Li

Peking University School of Health Humanities

ljun@bjmu.edu.cn

The 1978 Ala-Malta Conference's declaration of "Health for All" underscored the necessity of solidarity and equality in healthcare access. This foundational principle guided the World Health Organization's (WHO) subsequent emphasis on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), aiming to ensure equitable distribution of health risks across society. Beyond the financial hurdles to healthcare access, the era of globalization and migration has spotlighted the critical challenge of language barriers, a concern that has yet to gain adequate attention in global health discourse. This presentation delves into the efforts undertaken by countries such as the United States, Australia, Switzerland, and notably China, to mitigate these barriers within their healthcare systems. Despite the diverse linguistic landscapes of these nations, they share the common goal of overcoming language obstacles to fulfill the vision of a global health community where healthcare is accessible to all. The analysis presented is based on findings from participatory observations, content analysis, and literature synthesis, offering insights into the progress and ongoing challenges in addressing language barriers in healthcare settings. This discussion is timely and pertinent, advocating for a more inclusive approach to health equity in the context of a globally interconnected society.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Jun LI, with a PhD in Medical Sociology from Peking University and a Master's in Applied and Foreign Linguistics from Beijing Foreign Studies University, excels in medical humanities and translation studies. Besides his position at Peking University School of Health Humanities, he serves on several prestigious committees, including the Expert Committee of the Medical Translation of the Translators Association of China and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Translation and International Communication Special Committee and as a research fellow at Peking University's Narrative Medicine Research Center. He has published over 40 articles and translations, including works like "On the Cancer Frontier" and "Oxford Textbook of Medical Education." His editorial roles include chief editor of the "Textbook of English-Chinese Interpreting for Medical Conferences." Dr. Li has translated over 700,000 words in healthcare, education, and more, also providing simultaneous interpreting services. He has led or participated in over ten research projects, earning accolades such as the Excellent Case of International Communication by the State Council, and is an editorial board member of "Digital Medicine and Health" and "Studies in Medical Language and Culture.