Previously, pharmacists have only been required to provide oral translation services over the phone.

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill that requires California pharmacists to provide translations of prescription instructions to help the millions of residents with limited proficiency in English gain better access to important health care information.

Assembly Bill 1073, authored by Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) passed unanimously in both the state Assembly and Senate before being signed by the governor Sunday, according to Ting’s office. AB 1073 requires that all California pharmacists provide either their own translations or use the state Board of Pharmacy’s 15 standardized directions such as “take one pill at bedtime” or “take one pill in the morning,” which are available in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Previously, pharmacists have only been required to provide oral translation services over the phone, according to Ting’s office. “Pharmacy services play a central role in modern medicine and language skills should never be a cause of complications or death,” Ting said in a statement. More.

See: Patch

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