A medical interpreter at a Georgian clinic: talk to your doctor in your own language, from the first consultation to discharge
Staff at Georgian clinics work mainly in Georgian, and medical records are written in Georgian too. Some doctors speak English or Russian, but relying on that for your entire treatment is risky: a single misunderstood dose or restriction can turn into a serious problem. We arrange a medical interpreter who conveys everything the doctor says in your language and passes your questions to the doctor unchanged, at your side in the clinic or by video or phone call.
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In your languageEnglish, Russian, Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Armenian, Persian; other languages on request
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On the ward or by callIn person on the key days, by video link the rest of the time
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Confidentiality protectedYour health information is used only for interpreting
In short: what to know about language at a Georgian clinic
- We recommend an interpreter in the language you think in most freely and use to describe how you feel, not a language you only partly know.
- The Law on Patient Rights protects international patients too, but it does not provide a right to an interpreter, so the language question has to be settled before you arrive.
- Before surgery or any other complex intervention, sign the consent form only once you have understood every point of it in your own language.
- The interpreter does not give medical advice: decisions on diagnosis and treatment are made by the treating doctor, with your consent.
- For consultations, signing and the day of discharge the interpreter is at the clinic; for everyday questions on the ward a call is often enough.
- The price depends on the language, the format and the number of hours, and is agreed in writing before you confirm.
Why should you arrange an interpreter in advance?
The Law of Georgia on Patient Rights (of 5 May 2000) also applies to foreign nationals staying in Georgia. Under Article 9, they receive medical care in accordance with international treaties and, where there is no such treaty, with Georgian legislation. Article 6 prohibits discrimination on the grounds of language, national origin and place of residence, and Article 18 gives you the right to information on the diagnosis, prognosis, alternatives, risks and the cost of the service.
One thing the law does not mention is a right to an interpreter. Article 19 requires information to be given in a way that takes account of the patient's ability to understand it and with as few technical terms as possible, but it does not oblige the clinic to provide someone who speaks your language. If the clinic has a coordinator who speaks foreign languages, that is a real help, but that person is a clinic employee, cannot cover every language and may not be available at night or at weekends.
That is why we plan the interpreter together with your treatment schedule, before you arrive. If you choose full treatment coordination, the interpreter is part of it. If you have chosen the clinic yourself and need only language support, you can order this service on its own. All the services we offer international patients are gathered on the Treatment in Georgia page, and your rights are explained in more detail in the patient rights guide.
Which languages do we find interpreters for?
The main languages for which we provide medical interpreters are English, Russian, Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Armenian and Persian. For any other language we search separately and, before we confirm a date with the clinic, we tell you whether we have found a suitable specialist. If we have not, we say so plainly and will not offer you someone who speaks the language only at an everyday level.
Direct and two-step interpreting
The best option is an interpreter who works directly between Georgian and your language. For a rare language, sometimes only a two-step arrangement is possible: the doctor's words are first interpreted into English or Russian and then into your language. We use this arrangement only with your consent and warn you in advance that the conversation will be slower and the risk of error higher.
Dialect and the interpreter's gender
For Arabic, the dialect matters: patients from Iraq, Egypt or the Gulf states often use everyday words differently, which is why the form asks for your country of residence. You can also ask for a female or male interpreter. We take particular care with this for gynaecological, urological and other sensitive appointments, although availability depends on the language and we confirm it when you place your order.
When will you need an interpreter during treatment?
We choose the format for each stage. That way the interpreter is there where a mistake would cost the most, and you do not pay for hours you do not need.
| Stage | What the interpreter interprets | The format we recommend |
|---|---|---|
| Admission to the clinic | Registration questions, allergies and current medicines, the terms of the contract and the cost estimate | In person |
| Consultation and tests | The doctor's explanation, your symptoms and questions, and instructions given at the scanner: when to hold your breath, how to lie, how long to keep still | In person at the first visit, also by video call for follow-up visits |
| Signing the consent form | Every point of the form and your questions to the doctor | In person |
| On the ward | The doctor's round, the nurse's instructions, describing pain and side effects | In person or by call during the round, by call for evening questions |
| Discharge | Prescriptions, doses, restrictions, follow-up dates and the doctor's opinion on flying | In person |
| After you return home | Remote follow-up with your Georgian treating doctor | By video call |
Remote interpreting needs the clinic's permission, because a third party joins the conversation. We clarify this before the visit, as well as whether an interpreter is allowed into the intensive care unit.
How is a consent form translated before you sign it?
Article 22 of the law requires written informed consent before surgery, dialysis, blood transfusion, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, genetic testing and other similar interventions. Such a form may exist only in Georgian, and by signing it you confirm that you have understood the risks and alternatives. That is why we prepare for this moment in a particular way.
- We ask the clinic for a copy of the form a few days before the intervention, so that you have time to read it and do not see the text for the first time on the morning of surgery.
- A short form is translated by the interpreter on the spot, at sight; for a long one, a written translation is prepared by our medical document translation service.
- For every point you do not understand, the interpreter puts your question to the doctor and gives you the answer exactly, without adding explanations of their own.
- No one can make you sign while the text is still unclear to you: you can ask the doctor for a further explanation or for time to think it over.
- After you sign, we ask for a copy of the form for you, so that your doctor at home has it too.
In-person and remote interpreting: how do we combine them?
An interpreter in the room sees the doctor's sketch, the scanner screen and your reactions, which is why nothing can replace them at the first consultation, at signing and on the day of discharge. We confirm the city where the interpreter will work in person, and their hours, when you place your order.
Remote interpreting is convenient in the evenings and at weekends, when an unexpected question comes up, or when the person accompanying you is at the hotel and needs to join a conversation with the doctor. With your consent, a family member in your home country can join the call and hear the doctor's explanation directly, through the interpreter. This spares your family an anxious wait and information that is retold second-hand and partly lost.
What the interpreter receives before the visit
With your consent, the interpreter reads in advance the medical records you sent to the clinic, and together we draw up a short bilingual list: the diagnosis, the international names of your medicines, allergies and the words you use to describe your symptoms. For general terms you can also use our medical glossary. If you live in Georgia and are going abroad for treatment, we arrange a Georgian-speaking interpreter at the foreign clinic as a separate service.
Confidentiality and price
Under the Law on Personal Data Protection, health information is a special category of data (Article 6). Since 2 March 2026, compliance with this law in Georgia has been supervised by the State Audit Office.
Individual consultations and calls are charged by the hour, with a minimum duration, and a full day at the clinic at a daily rate. The price depends on the language, the format and how many days your treatment lasts. We give you the exact amount for your schedule in writing before you confirm anything. You pay for treatment directly to the clinic, and the cost of the interpreter is shown separately.
Frequently asked questions about medical interpreters in Georgia
My doctor speaks English. Do I still need an interpreter?
If English is your native language or you speak it fluently, you may well manage your conversations with the doctor without an interpreter. But treatment is not only about talking to the doctor: nurses, laboratory and reception staff and the night shift do not always speak English, and consent forms and the discharge summary are often written in Georgian. Many patients use an interpreter only at the key moments: when signing consent and on the day of discharge. That is a sensible balance between cost and safety.
Can a relative act as my interpreter?
Yes, and for everyday matters this often works well. There are still two risks to bear in mind. A relative may know the language well but not the medical terms, and someone who is emotionally involved will often, without meaning to, soften bad news or leave out some details. Also, on certain subjects, such as reproductive or mental health, a patient may not be able to say everything in front of a family member. When the diagnosis is discussed and before surgery, we recommend an independent interpreter.
How far in advance should I request an interpreter?
As early as possible, ideally when the date of your visit is agreed with the clinic. Finding an interpreter for English or Russian is usually easier; less common languages and dialects take more time. Asking early also matters because it gives the interpreter time to look through your records and prepare a list of terms. If you need an interpreter urgently, for example after an unexpected hospital admission, call us on +995 501 113 200: for the first few hours we can often arrange remote interpreting until an interpreter arrives in person.
Can the interpreter help at night or at the weekend?
We schedule planned visits during working hours, but in hospital questions often come up in the evening, after the doctor's round is over. We agree in advance how to handle this: until what time you can call the interpreter, how the interpreter joins a conversation with the nurse and whom to contact if the interpreter does not answer. Night and weekend hours may be charged at a different rate, which we state in the contract in advance. In a life-threatening situation, turn first to the clinic staff or call 112, and only then to the interpreter.
Does the interpreter translate documents too?
An interpreter can explain a document to you orally on the spot, but that is not a written translation. The discharge summary, test and imaging reports and prescriptions must be translated in writing for your doctor or insurance company at home, sometimes with notarisation. This is done by our medical translation service, and how to prepare the full set of documents for your return home is explained on a separate page. Before discharge, the interpreter on site checks that every prescription and every follow-up date has been included in the discharge summary.
Related services
- Support in hospital Admission documents, daily contact, updates for your family and what to do if something goes wrong.
- Documents for home A copy of the discharge summary, a translation into your language, an apostille and invoices for your insurer.
- Treatment coordination Review of your records, quotes from clinics, travel and follow-up contact after treatment, all in one pair of hands.
Every word your doctor says, in your language
Tell us which language you speak, in which city your appointment is and when. We will reply with who can interpret for you, in what format and at what cost. Contact us on WhatsApp: +995 501 113 200.