CEE/Newsletter/Newsroom/WikiProjectMed Healthcare Translation Task Force’s Efforts Across the CEE Region
- By: Chinthi, WikiProjectMed Coordinator
Access to reliable medical information can be a matter of life or death, especially in regions with limited access to healthcare resources. Recognising this, the WikiProjectMed Healthcare Translation Task Force—hosted on MDWiki—is leading a global initiative to make evidence-based health content accessible in every language. By translating high-quality Wikipedia medical articles, we aim to empower communities and bridge the language gap in health education, thereby contributing to the reduction of global health disparities.
What We Do
Our project brings together volunteers from around the world, including translators from organisations such as Translators without Borders, ProZ Pro Bono, and the Open Language Initiative. Through their combined efforts, we ensure that critical health information is available in plain, understandable language for all, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility.
Our Impact in CEE Languages
We’re proud to be making a tangible difference in Central and Eastern Europe. Thanks to our growing team of dedicated translators, the number of medical articles now available on Wikipedia in CEE languages is increasing significantly.
These are just some of the languages we’ve worked on so far:
- Russian – 60 articles
- Ukrainian – 58 articles
- Romanian – 19 articles
- Turkish – 27 articles
- Albanian – 17 articles
These articles cover a wide range of topics, including essential medicine, occupational health and infectious diseases. They ensure that vital, accurate information is accessible to millions.
I chose to take part in the Wikipedia medical translations project because I genuinely want to give something useful back to the community. I’m always eager to learn and to sharpen my skills, and translating reliable medical content into Romanian feels both meaningful and impactful. I also believe that having accurate health information in one’s native language can empower people to make informed decisions about their well-being — shared Simona, one of our Romanian volunteer translators.
Supporting New Translators
In order to expand our outreach and mentor the next generation of language professionals, we recently collaborated with the Open Language Initiative to launch the 2025 Summer Medical Translation Practicum, in which students from the MA programme 'The Theory and Practice of Translation' at the University of West in Timișoara, Romania, as well as other translators, joined our project. Experienced mentors reviewed their work, offering constructive feedback and helping students to gain confidence and develop real-world translation skills while contributing to a meaningful cause.
Looking Ahead
We're thrilled about the opportunities to expand our reach even further. Our next steps include launching focused translation campaigns in Azerbaijan and deepening our support for Turkish-language articles, thanks to our ongoing partnership with Translators without Borders.
While our current focus is on less-translated languages, our long-term vision is global. We’ve already seen growing views on our translated articles in this region, and everyone deserves access to lifesaving information.
Get Involved!
WikiProject Med is an ongoing effort, and we welcome new contributors, regardless of their location. There's no need to wait to join us — whether you're a translator, a medical expert or someone who believes in open knowledge, we'd love to have your support.
Volunteers are at the heart of what we do, and every contribution, no matter how small, is significant. Your work could help someone, somewhere to make an informed health decision, and that's important.
If you’d like to contribute by translating, you can start here. We have an introductory course on learn.wiki to help you get started. You can contact the team if you have any questions.
Your contribution is crucial in this collective effort. Let’s work together to bring high-quality medical content to every language, every region, and every person.