When you need a translation of a medical chart, a diagnostic report, pharmaceutical research, or any other medical material, you should expect more of the translator you hire than comprehensive skills in the languages involved. Many medical translators are doctors or hold degrees in medicine, because the sensitive task of medical translation requires detailed training and significant expertise in order to accurately reflect what may be critical information in the original document. Translations that are properly understood by health care providers who speak the target language are too important to entrust to just anyone.
To find a dependable translator or agency to perform a medical translation, be sure to start your search with a realistic idea of the cost factors involved. Whether you are a patient, a healthcare volunteer, a medical or nursing professional, or a worker at a healthcare company or pharmaceutical manufacturer, you should be aware of the likely price of an accurate medical translation.
More than 8 out of 10 health professionals recommend hiring a translator who specializes in the medical field. Beyond that, consider the following key facts when choosing a medical translator:
- Translators who specialize in the medical field often charge higher rates.
- The cost of a medical translation is partially based on the complexity of the material.
- Prices generally range from €0.09 to €0.20 per word, averaging about €0.15 per word.
- Translations with short deadlines may cost extra for expedited services.
- The translator must have experience in the healthcare field. The accuracy of the translation depends a great deal on this factor.
- Big jobs may get you an advantage, because 45% of translation agencies offer discounts for projects larger than 10,000 words.
- The average medical translation takes 5.2 business days to complete.
- About a third, or 32%, of medical translations require a review by medical experts to ensure accuracy.
This article will explore the pricing aspects of medical translations. Specifically, we will discuss:
- The factors that most affect translation prices
- Why medical translations usually cost more than other translations
- The measurement units most often used to calculate translation costs
- Average total prices for medical translations
- How to make sure you hire a professional translator
- An easy way to get a detailed quote
- Ways to save money while obtaining a high-quality translation
The table below shows costs for different types of medical translation services:
| SERVICE TYPE | LANGUAGE PAIR | COST PER WORD | MINIMUM FEE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Medical Translation | English to Spanish | $0.12 | $50 |
| Standard Medical Translation | English to French | $0.14 | $60 |
| Standard Medical Translation | English to Chinese | $0.15 | $60 |
| Technical Medical Translation | English to German | $0.18 | $70 |
| Technical Medical Translation | English to Japanese | $0.20 | $75 |
| Specialized Medical Translation | English to Arabic | $0.16 | $65 |
The following table lists possible additional charges that may apply to a medical translation.
| ADDITIONAL CHARGES |
| Rush delivery: +25% |
| Complex formatting: +15% |
| Certification: $30 per document |
| Extensive research: +20% |
| Revisions beyond two rounds: $20/hour |
| Project management for large volumes: +5% |
What Factors Influence Medical Translation Service Costs?
Consider the elements listed below to get a sense of the likely cost of your medical translation:
- Your price for a translation starts with the type of document to be translated (for instance, translated medical records will likely cost more than a translation of a general-interest business document).
- The more complex the translation, the higher the final price.
- The length of the text to be translated is a decisive factor. Most translations are priced by the word or by the page, although price discounts may be given for very large translations.
- The specific language combination involved is another important factor, depending on whether one or both languages are commonly used or rare. A translation to or from an unusual language will naturally cost more than a translation between common language pairs such as Italian/English or Spanish/English.
- The use of unusual technical terms and a specialized subject matter will influence the complexity of the translation and thus its cost.
- Unusual document formats (other than common ones like PDF or Word) may incur higher prices.
- The final delivery time you request can be key. A standard turnaround will cost less than an extremely urgent one.
- If the translated document must be certified or asseverated, you will need to pay a fee for that service.
This last point calls for more detail for a thorough understanding. If you may move to a foreign country, or if you are dealing with an insurance company regarding a claim for compensation, oftentimes you will be required to furnish a sworn translation of the medical document, also called an asseverated translation. This means that the translator must swear an oath before a public official. Other circumstances may call for a certified translation, in which the translator provides a statement of responsibility for the quality of their translation, which is done without any involvement of judicial authorities.
A sworn translation costs more and requires the application of a variable number of revenue stamps depending on the court involved. This type of translation offers a further guarantee of quality because the translator assumes civil and criminal liability for their translation.
Either type of translation must be done by a professional translator. In some countries and under certain circumstances, legalization is requested in addition to the asseveration or sworn translation. Legalization involves affixing a stamp that officially certifies the legal status of the public official who signed the document. If the country in question is a signatory to the Hague Convention, it will be enough to affix what is called an apostille stamp.
All these language services are offered by most translation agencies, whereas a freelance translator may or may not offer these services.
Also read: What is medical translation and why is it important?
Why are medical translations more expensive than regular ones?
Medical translations necessitate extremely specific knowledge and experience. Professional medical translators are often doctors or medical graduates. If not, they should be able to document their qualifications and expertise in a medical field. These highly technical translation projects require the translator to have in-depth knowledge of the languages involved as well as profound familiarity with the medical specialty in question, making them a bit of a specialty within a specialty.
Creating a medical translation is an important responsibility that can affect human health and welfare. What is more, a sworn or certified translation also carries with it civil and criminal liability in the event of critical errors.
These are the reasons why a medical translation generally costs more than a simple translation that uses everyday language.
Is medical translation priced per word or per page?
The price of medical translations is most often calculated either based on the total word count or on the total page count.
As an approximate example, let’s consider a single page or printed sheet of paper, and let’s say that it has 200 words or 1,375 characters, including spaces. If it is a medical translation from Italian to English, the price for our example page might be between 32 and 35 euros, plus VAT.
The price for very long documents such as medical records, reports, or scientific articles might be calculated at a flat rate.
- The price per word for a translation in EU countries ranges from €0.09 to about €0.20.
- The average price per word for a medical or technical translation in the U.S. is $0.20.
You might occasionally see rates based on hours worked if you are dealing with a freelance translator. This is a bit harder to evaluate because one translator may work more quickly than another, and you may not know in advance how long your particular translator might take to finish your project. But when it comes to making document revisions or doing proofreading of a translation (as opposed to the translation itself), a fee per hour might make sense.
In addition to the price of the translation, there may be an extra charge to provide sworn, legalized, and certified translations. In the EU, the following rates will give you an indication of prices for these services.
- A sworn document should cost about €80 plus VAT.
- Revenue stamps are another, separate service. Usually what is required is a €16 revenue stamp applied to every fourth page.
- A legalization or apostille should cost about €60 plus VAT.
- Certifying a translation should cost about €20 plus VAT.
Also read: How to become a medical translator?
What are medical translation rates per word?
Briefly, a medical translation will have a higher price tag than a general translation, and the average cost is about €33 per page. Keep in mind that this is a general guideline only, as the cost to you could vary due to very technical content, a rarely used language, complex formatting and other factors.
How To Choose a Medical Translation Agency?
There are three choices to consider when you start looking for a medical translation. These are:
- Specialty translation agencies
- Freelance translators
- Reliable online platforms
- Professional translation agencies may have a bricks-and-mortar office, but increasing amounts of translation work is done online using modern technology that can make physical location irrelevant. Moreover, remote translation has been done for many years with proven success. A good translation agency will assign tasks to chosen individuals from a network of experienced, native translators with different specialties. An agency will have constantly updated information on the experience and performance of all their translators, with a close eye on each step of the translation process. This includes quality control procedures with reviews by a second translator, which may not be feasible for freelance translators to offer. The larger number of translators at an agency can also make it possible to provide expedited completion of translation projects by using multiple translators. These additional quality guarantees also may come with a more competitive pricing structure for the best accuracy at a great price.
- Freelance translators are likely to have lower overhead expenses than an agency, allowing them to keep costs down. The more modest costs might, however, mean fewer quality assurance steps, because many freelancers work alone, without colleagues to review the work done or complete projects more rapidly without sacrificing accuracy. Finally, freelance translators may have different levels of training, certifications and experience, so it is more difficult to assess their competence and track records.
- Finally, there exist some advanced medical translation platforms, like Smartcat, Care to Translate, Proz.com and Upwork. These platforms offer specialized software that generally performs well and could suffice for translations of draft documents, but we urge caution in using these platforms for important medical reports. If your health or the health of a loved one is at stake, or if the safety of a medical device or treatment is being documented, it could be well worth it to pay a bit extra to avoid errors or inaccuracies. In short, if recommended to you by a trusted professional translator, these tools can be quite useful, but their use by an inexperienced person could result in an inaccurate or possibly even dangerous translation.
How Can You Save Money Without Compromising Quality?
This is a critical point where your total cost is weighed against the quality you want and deserve. We can suggest three ways you can save money on precise, accurate medical translations:
- There are economies of scale with translations, as with many other services. If you have a very lengthy document to be translated, you can save money by asking about a discount for a high volume of material. Perhaps you could start by asking for the length where a price break can be offered.
- Computer-assisted translation tools, as mentioned above, can lead to significant cost savings and shorter completion times in some cases. Keep in mind that each translation may be different, so that some projects can take advantage of technology, while others may not benefit as much. An experienced and trusted translator should be able to advise you on whether your individual translation project is suited to computerized translation tools, and they should be able to explain their reasoning.
- A final method for keeping down translation prices is to become a “frequent flyer” with a reputable translator or esteemed translation agency. If you anticipate needing many other translations in the coming months and years, it is a good idea to ask if a loyalty discount is available. If you are happy with the translations you receive, reaching an understanding can benefit you as well as the translator.
How can I get a quote for medical translation services?
The good news is that finding out an exact cost for your medical translation project is a relatively easy process. For example, with an online translation agency like Espresso Translations, simply fill out the contact form on their website to send them your document, making sure to spell out what type of translation you need, your deadline, and any special formatting considerations or special services you want to request. If you ask for a quote from Espresso Translations or another well regarded agency, you will receive a detailed response providing the cost and turnaround times within a few hours.
FAQs
How do freelance translators differ from agencies in pricing?
An agency can offer more accuracy guarantees and greater quality control than an individual translator could provide. A good translation agency selects its translators by demanding certain level of education, credentials and qualifications. An agency is more likely to be able to use multiple translators to check each others’ work, and an agency can afford to have staff that focuses on contacts, special deliveries, and so on. A freelance translator, on the other hand, often works alone and may not have the same quality control processes in place that an agency might have. While a freelance translator might cost less, that is not always the case. A freelancer with extensive experience in a medical specialty, especially one operating in a high cost of living area, might even cost you more.
Does the cost vary depending on the specific medical field?
The price of a medical translation depends primarily on the complexity of the language and the technical complexity of the topic. The cost to translate a clearly written article directed at general consumers is going to be less than the cost to translate a report that uses technical terminology related to an uncommon medical subspecialty. Complicated medical terminology and highly specialized topics (such as the chemical composition of a new medication, or perhaps medical research using complex statistics) will require more time, research and expertise of the translator, which will in turn result in a larger fee to you.
What risks come with choosing low-cost translation services?
If you were to compare the cost of a professional medical translation to a cheaper, non-professional translation, you might be tempted to go for the less expensive option, but this would be a false economy. This is because of the potential financial or (even worse) non-financial price you could pay if the translation turns out to be inaccurate, incomplete or misleading. This would be a high-risk way to cut costs, because medical translations that are not done to exacting professional standards can have significant impacts on the cost and success of important projects, and in the worst cases might even affect human health.
