Statista, in its report on ‘Global Pharmaceutical Industry’ stated that the revenue of pharma sector exceeded 1 trillion US dollars in 2014. There has been constant breakthroughs in scientific research. There is growing inclination to make healthcare available to masses. All these factors have made the pharmaceutical industry hold great importance in today’s time. Before any product is introduced into the market, it undergoes a period of trial and testing aimed at confirming its safety and efficacy. This means there’s a good amount of documentation that takes place to record every stage of this process. Having a medical translator for pharma translation is very essential.
Pharmaceutical products are intended to be distributed beyond borders by both, big and upcoming companies alike. This is where translation enters into the picture and plays a vital role. Translation is needed right till the product is made ready for sale in the target market.
What does a medical translator for pharma translation requirement work on?
a. Test procedures & user manuals.
b. Case report forms, drug labels and inserts.
c. Instructions for usage of medical devices and software & consent forms.
d. Localization of website content & newsletters.
Translation of the above mentioned content must be done by a native, domain specific medical translator. Here are the reasons why:
Proficiency
A language can certainly be acquired but the proficiency of a native level translator needs experience. So, the ideal translator is someone who has strong linguistic skills in both, source and target language. There is a specific reason for this. Being native in one language and having less than advanced proficiency in the other, would still leave some room for error.
Domain specific medical translator for pharma translation
A native translator may well be an expert in certain subject matters or fields but this expertise cannot be transferred from one field to another. If a translator isn’t an expert in a particular domain, he or she would not be able to translate the document in a justifiable way. The translator may also end up providing a non-contextual translation.
Professional Language
The kind of language and terminology used in a purely medical document is not something everyone is able to comprehend, let alone paraphrase in a professional manner. A relevant educational background and/or work experience in the required field is a must, in order to work on translation.
From the above points, it is evident that being a native translator isn’t enough to be a good medical translator. Since the product has a possibility of global reach and impact, it becomes increasingly essential for the pharmaceutical and healthcare companies to carefully select translators.