Making Catalan a reality when we enter the doctor's office shouldn't be a wish or a pipe dream, but a guaranteed right of all patients who must communicate with healthcare professionals in highly private (sometimes, very serious) situations. However, we have often heard and published in the ARA (Spanish National Archives) complaints from citizens who have seen this right violated, only to find that their interlocutors not only didn't speak Catalan, but were also unable to understand it, forcing them to address the patient in Spanish. Given this, the mobilization of patients themselves—through complaints to the center in question, for example—is important, but it's also important that something moves on the other side, that is, among healthcare professionals.
This is precisely what Salut pel Català is all about, an association that was founded to act as a backlash against administrations with the intention of putting an end to a situation that discriminates against a language and, therefore, against patients. It should not be forgotten that, individual battles aside, guaranteeing linguistic rights is the responsibility of the public authorities. In the interview published today in ARA, the president of the association, cardiologist Lluís Mont, calls for this commitment to be taken seriously once and for all. For example, on paper, for years, it has been required to prove a C1 level in Catalan to access a position in the public health system, but Mont himself acknowledges that no one ensures that this is enforced.
The reality in healthcare settings, according to surveys, is that only between 20% and 50% of healthcare personnel actually speak Catalan, and 40% exclusively in Spanish. Reversing these figures cannot depend solely on the willingness of staff; it is necessary to provide the tools and means to demand that, within a reasonable period of time, and regardless of where they come from, the professionals who join our healthcare system can prove a sufficient level of Catalan. It's true that the healthcare system faces significant challenges, such as the generational change it will experience in the coming years. The number of foreign medical professionals registered has grown and now accounts for 47% of annual enrollments, according to the Official College of Physicians of Barcelona (COMB). But all this cannot be overcome by the false dilemma of health or language. Quality of care also includes Catalan.
Including doctors, nurses, assistants, and all healthcare personnel in Catalan undoubtedly puts the patient at the center. A doctor's knowledge of the patient's language translates into more agile and direct communication, which inevitably has a positive impact on the care the patient receives when describing discomfort or pain, or when a diagnosis needs to be communicated or a treatment prescribed. This may seem obvious but is not mere assumption: a study by the Canadian Medical Association certifies a 24% drop in mortality among French-speakers treated in their own language in that country, as well as improved prognoses and shorter hospital stays compared to French-speakers treated in French.
It is true that in recent years, thanks to the work of many people, including professionals—as demonstrated by Salut pel Català—steps have been made to place Catalan in healthcare at the center of the debate. This has allowed progress toward new measures, such as establishing a mandatory language representative in all medical centers or mandating the existence of a language management plan. Any initiative in this direction is welcome, but we must not forget, as experience tells us, that we must ensure that each step forward is genuine and not merely a matter of signed commitments.
