Pharmacies are stepping up efforts to lower language barriers for foreign patients visiting their establishments.

From publicly disclosing information about pharmacies capable of foreign-language consultations to directly communicating in foreign languages on-site and utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to generate medication guidance documents, the pharmacy sector is actively facilitating communication with foreign patients.

Currently, the Gangnam-gu District Office in Seoul provides a list of "foreign-language-capable pharmacies" on its official website, allowing patients to easily identify pharmacies where communication in foreign languages is possible.

The released directory shows that pharmacies can communicate not only in English, Chinese, and Japanese, but also in diverse languages such as Spanish and Vietnamese.

Similarly, the Dongdaemun-gu District Office provides information on foreign-language-support pharmacies through its public health center website. Most pharmacies on this list are capable of communication in English, with some offering guidance in Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish as well.

Communication in pharmacies goes far beyond simply finding the right medicine. Language is crucial when explaining symptoms and current medications, understanding dosage schedules, and grasping important precautions. Foreign-language consultations play a vital role in exchanging this critical information between patients and pharmacists.

In fact, some pharmacists are personally making an effort to provide consultations in foreign languages.

Pharmacist A, who works at a pharmacy frequently visited by foreign tourists, explained that they not only provide direct consultations in English but also offer guidance in Chinese and Japanese, utilizing multiple languages to accommodate visitors from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

"This is a pharmacy visited by many foreign tourists as well," Pharmacist A said. "When foreign visitors come in, I explain things to them directly in English, and I am currently studying Chinese and Japanese to further improve my counseling skills."

Recently, efforts to incorporate AI into communication with foreign patients have also been expanding.

In July, the Gangnam-gu Pharmacists Association introduced an AI service to support members in their pharmacy operations, which includes a dedicated medication guidance feature for foreign patients.

Reflecting the regional characteristics of Gangnam-gu, where demand from foreign visitors is high, the service is equipped with functions to generate English, Japanese, and Chinese medication guidance sheets and price tags using AI. By simply entering the required details at the pharmacy, pharmacists can easily create tailored informational materials for foreign patients.

Alongside direct foreign-language consultations, the practical communication tools available in pharmacies are broadening through the use of AI for multilingual guidance materials.

Efforts to guide patients to accessible pharmacies, explain treatments in multiple languages, and produce multilingual medication guides all converge on a single goal: delivering essential information to foreign patients.

Even when different languages are spoken, pharmacies are continuously expanding their points of contact to ensure that correct usage and precautions can be fully understood.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]