( English – Tamil ) Language of Healthcare Phrase Book by Dr Kishan Rao

Imagine yourself eliciting history from a patient in a language you don’t speak or write. The patient knows only the local language which you cannot understand. Trying to communicate through signs has also failed. What would you do then?
Such a situation is a very common occurrence in a country like ours where the number of languages spoken from region to region skyrocket in harmonic progression. Establishing an effective communication becomes very difficult in such a situation due to lack of mutual knowledge of a common dialect. The very aim of a doctor which is to impart healthcare and counsel then becomes futile. Hence, only medical knowledge is not sufficient for a doctor. Being able to communicate this medical knowledge for the benefit of the masses is what is more important. Thus, it is imperative to be able to communicate in a dialect which the patient understands so as to console, convince and counsel, the three important features of an empathetic doctor.
With this very aim and motto, this book is a humble attempt to bridge the loopholes and gaps in communication. Commonly used words and questions asked have been translated into Tamil from English with the sole aim to help medical students and also healthcare professionals to build a good rapport with the patients and provide the best of care and cure. We hope this handy manual will soon be your best friend and be there for you through thick and thin. It is however a well-established fact that practice makes one perfect. Hence, only by repeated practice of speaking will help one master the art of effective communication.