Prescription for Inequity

The struggles of limited English proficient patrons at D.C. pharmacies

Every D.C. resident should understand his or her prescription medication labels, and be able to obtain the correct medication. The consequences of misunderstanding these labels or consuming the wrong drugs can be dire for patients and costly for our city. Providing oral interpretation services at pharmacy counters, prescription label information in a patient’s language, and translation of other key information can improve health outcomes and reduce budget spending on health care by avoiding the costs of having to treat illnesses that result from improperly-taken medication.