New publications
WHO information will be available in different languages
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Today, most public health information is produced in English, but some experts insist on providing information in other languages that are also widely used around the world.
One of the founders of the Saudi Arabian Medical Informatics Association said that when his relative was diagnosed with a rare disease, it was impossible to find information about the disease in Arabic, and the only place to find out was on forums. However, there was more than enough information about the rare disease in English.
According to statistics, about 700 million people in the world speak English well, and for 330 million this language is their native language.
It turns out that the rest of the world's population (which is about 6 billion people) does not have access to a huge amount of information, including in the area of public health.
It is worth noting that not knowing the language can become an obstacle to receiving quality medical care.
The need to publish information in different languages does not diminish, despite the fact that the most widely spoken language is English. One of the WHO publications notes 6 official languages - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, but even these languages are the main languages for only 2.4 billion people.
WHO translates all of its official reports and resolutions into all six official languages, but the rest of the health organization's publications (clinical guidelines, technical reports) remain in English.
10 years ago, WHO created its website, where you can find information in 6 official languages, however, most of the articles on the site are posted in only one language – English.
One study found that almost all scientists strive to publish their work in English in order to gain wider dissemination.
One of the most popular medical websites, Wikipedia, partners with various translation service providers to overcome the language barrier.
With the help of a global network of translators, the website hosts a huge number of articles in more than 100 languages.
A Wikipedia editor noted that during the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, a collaborative effort was made possible to post information about the disease in some 115 languages.
In addition to Wikipedia, various US websites provide information in multiple languages, but despite this, the lack of public health information remains a pressing issue.
Several years ago, WHO launched a program aimed at expanding access to medical information in languages other than the official ones. The virtual library will allow anyone with Internet access to obtain the necessary information in their native language.
WHO works closely with various centres to help translate publications into local languages.
According to statistics, the WHO website has been visited by users from more than 50 countries. Russian and Portuguese-speaking users now have access to medical information, and WHO now intends to translate its publications into Arabic as well.