Assessment and Solution for the Future Trend of the Medical Interpretation Market in China

Across the past decade, the number of foreigners coming to China is increasing, accompanied by increasing multilingual interpretation needs. The demand is most pronounced in the realm of medical and healthcare related translation, due to its high degree of required professionalism and high frequency in daily life. However, China has been lagging in medical interpretation solutions. Although in the past decade, relevant authorities and hospitals have taken measures to respond to this emerging problem, the effectiveness of solutions remains in question. The gap between demand and supply in medical interpretation in China has been widening. To meet the growing demand, we have mapped out a new business plan. We will establish a mobile platform linking both the demand side (foreigners who have medical interpretation needs) and the supply side (qualified medical interpreters) to provide real-time and highly customized interpretation. This paper theorizes the gap between demand and needs at a macro level, the desirability of potential customers at a micro level, and finally demonstrates the details of our business model. To test this theory, we adopted three methodologies—linear regression, personal interviews, and surveys based on convenience sampling. We conclude with a discussion of our business as a pioneer of high potential and prospects in the Chinese market.