CLINT 2019 The Takeaways -
19/09/2019

CLINT 2019: The Takeaways

Our team recently attended and presented at CLINT 2019, a two-day event organized by Translated in Argentina (TinA). The event took place at Universidad Siglo 21 in Córdoba. Almost 300 attendees came together to learn and share their knowledge about the translation industry. 

There were opportunities to engage with company owners, account managers, project managers, and freelance translators from around the world. Not only did speakers from Argentina present, but also some from Spain, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the United States, and Brazil.

What We Presented

Our Chief People Officer, Natalia Quintás took to the stage to present on managing high performance teams.

Our Chief People Officer, Natalia Quintás took to the stage to present on managing high performance teams. There was such a large turnout for her presentation that some attendees had to sit on the floor. The audience seemed surprised to learn that our team works remotely. They were eager to learn more about how we communicate effectively on a daily basis. They took a specific interest in how we manage employee time and project progress. As well as how we handle performance reviews and deliver feedback. Despite allotting time for a Q&A portion of the presentation, many guests approached Natalia afterwards to ask even more questions about her presentation.  

How Our Team Participated

Twelve of our team members attended the event. Alongside giving us some much appreciated face-to-face time, we were able to split up and attend multiple talks on different topics. We attended various sessions that happened simultaneously. Our team members walked away with a lot of knowledge and new ideas from the different sessions that we could share with each other.  

One of the prestigious foreign speakers that our team was most excited to see present was Pablo Mugüerza. He specializes in medical translation and is the author of an educational course that staff members Silvina Oddino and Celeste Moreno recently took about the translation of clinical trial protocols. Two of our in-house linguists, Bibiana and Alejandro, had the opportunity to take advantage of his deep knowledge and expertise. Pablo titled his presentation as “Cutting-edge medicine translation: immunology, genetics and cancer”. 

Other members of our team took a particular interest in the sessions related to audiovisual translation, including the subtitling of cultural references and the use of inclusive language in subtitles. Post-edition was another topic that sparked a lot of interest among our team. We all learned more about the common mistakes found in machine translation and how to fix them quickly and efficiently. Even though professional translators are knowledgeable on how to fix any mistakes, when it comes to machine translation, the process can be very time-consuming. And the truth is in some cases, a simple “find and replace” action can save a lot of time. 

What We Learned

While we learned many valuable lessons at CLINT 2019, our team’s overall takeaway from this event was the importance of being agile and adaptable. In this information age, everything changes increasingly fast. We need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. It is in times of disruption that the most brilliant opportunities arise.

The conference wrapped up with the introduction of TinA’s new board members and a fun raffle. We could not be more proud to announce that Chief People Officer Natalia Quintás and Director of Operations Manuela Lamas are two of the newly chosen members of the board. Through their active participation in the association’s initiatives, Terra will contribute to the advancement of the translation industry. And we will participate in the on-going training of future language professionals.

Pharmaceutical Packaging Translation: A Growing Global Need
04/09/2019

Pharmaceutical Packaging Translation: A Growing Global Need

Language touches every area of our lives. Words can gift hope and faith. Or they can start wars. There is no denying that language can mean life or death. Especially when it comes to the medical industry. Mistranslation of medical terminology, treatments, or a patient’s history is extremely dangerous. The pharmaceutical packaging market in particular has rapidly growing translation needs. By 2025, it’s estimated that the pharmaceutical packaging market will be worth $128 billion. For comparison’s sake, as of 2015, the market’s worth was almost $69 billion.

Where is Growth Coming From?

Why such a large increase in growth? To start, there is an increased global demand for medication in emerging economies. Combine that fact with an aging population, increase in chronic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and strict medical regulations. The Latin American market alone is anticipated to experience a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.51% by 2022.

Where Translation Comes Into Play

Pharmaceutical packaging translation may not be an immediately apparent need. But when broken down, the amount of translation required is substantial. Not only do pharmaceutical labels require translation, but so do those hefty leaflets that come in the packing. All packages must include information on a pharmaceutical’s name, strength, and form. Each will also contain a statement of active substances per dosage. As well as the method and route of administration. And of course, a warning to keep the product out of the reach of children.

All applicable warnings must be included, alongside the:

  • Expiration date
  • Special storage requirements
  • Batch number
  • Authorization number
  • Disposal guidance
  • Contact information for the marketing authorization holder
  • Product’s name in braille

All of the above information must be written in the official languages of the country where the product is sold. Similar to medical devices, pharmaceutical products are regulated in most countries. Each has its own set of specific rules.

Canada is a prime example of what to expect when distributing pharmaceuticals in a country that has more than one national language. Because they have two official languages, English and French, pharmaceutical packaging translation is required to ensure both languages are present on the required materials. Even if the drug is available for sale without a prescription, such as over-the-counter allergy medication. The EU requires Member States to make official languages clearly legible on packaging leaflets. In the EU, companies must comply with any guidelines enforced by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and its Committee for Human Medicinal Products (CHMP), as well as abide by any local regulations.

Pharmaceutical Packaging Translation Solutions

Pharmaceutical packaging translation requires a professional native-speaking translator with medical translation experience and knowledge. Word-for-word translations aren’t sufficient for medical translations. They require complete comprehension of the subject matter. As well as the ability to communicate the true meaning of the text. Which is why it’s important to utilize specialist native translators who have the cultural and linguistic experience required to properly translate pharmaceutical packaging. 

These types of translators are more in demand than ever due to the large number of pharmaceuticals shipped across countries and continents. Not only does proper translation enhance a patient’s safety, but it helps maintain compliance with any country-specific regulatory requirements.

In order to accommodate multiple languages on packages, you can consider utilizing modern labeling techniques that allow more space for multiple translations of vital information. There are tools available that allow you to print multiple languages on one label. Because the label wraps around the prescription bottle multiple times, it can replace a standard adhesive label without negatively affecting legibility, packaging size, or appearance.