Communication is a central component of health services. It is a pivotal factor in the quality of care being provided. When both the health professional and the patient do not speak the same language, they face language barriers, which involve serious consequences:

• Longer and less effective medical consultations;
• More diagnostic tests;
• Increased risk of hospitalizations;
• Decreased adherence to treatments;
• Lower level of satisfaction with the care received;
• Higher costs for the health system.

All patients have the right to health care that complies with ethical practices; they have the right to receive the best health care services they need, when and where they need them. In Francophone minority communities, Francophones are often faced with a lack of health services provided in French, which leads to substandard health care services.