Danish translation fee deters patients from seeking medical care, study finds

Since the introduction of a translation fee in Denmark in July 2018, patients who have lived in the country for over three years and do not speak sufficient Danish are required to pay for translation services during medical consultations. This fee, which varies from 191 DKK for video interpretation to 1,675 DKK for in-person hospital interpretation, has led to many avoiding necessary medical visits. A recent PhD study from the University of Copenhagen indicates that 42% of surveyed individuals reported the fee deterred them from seeking medical care.

Those most affected are patients with low incomes, limited education, and poor health, highlighting a significant barrier to healthcare access. Additionally, 73% of respondents resort to using friends or family for translation instead of professional interpreters, which can result in miscommunication and potential medical errors. Some patients have been left uninformed about serious conditions like cancer due to relatives withholding information during these translations.

The Danish government anticipates annual revenues from this fee to be between 1.2 and 2.4 million DKK, despite criticism from healthcare professionals and patient advocates who see it as a form of healthcare inequality. The proposed repeal of this fee by left-wing parties was rejected by the government, with officials suggesting that individuals should bear the cost of translation after three years in the country. While some respondents are reportedly motivated to learn Danish faster due to the fee, critics argue that this policy has serious health implications without providing significant integration benefits.