Linguistic and cultural intermediation in healthcare: in search of an explicit right in Spanish and Catalan legislation

Abstract

In Spain, the right to healthcare is established as a universal right, supported by the current legal framework and implemented through the National Health System. However, the effectiveness of this right can be compromised when language barriers arise between healthcare professionals and patients with limited proficiency in the official local languages, thereby jeopardizing the equity and quality of care provided. This article aims to examine how the legal frameworks in Spain and Catalonia address the right to linguistic mediation in the healthcare sector and how this right is regulated by public policies in Catalonia. In particular, it explores the potential legal recognition of roles such as interpreters and intercultural mediators, as well as their integration into the healthcare system. The findings of this study offer an updated perspective on the regulation—or lack thereof—concerning intercultural communication in healthcare, while also providing an opportunity to reflect on the conditions necessary for more inclusive, effective, and linguistically respectful healthcare services.