The SERViiN service, which would allow real-time video-interpretation for deaf users at the Hospital do Espírito Santo de Évora (HDES), was announced in February, but its implementation faces significant limitations. The system was created with the objective of facilitating communication between the deaf community and the hospital's health professionals.
The service promised to break language barriers through video calls with Portuguese sign language interpreters, allowing deaf users to access healthcare more autonomously and effectively. This technological solution represented an important advancement in the hospital's accessibility.
However, Wi-Fi coverage is not available throughout the hospital, which significantly limits the service's reach. Many deaf users cannot use video-interpretation in all areas of HDES, compromising equitable access to this resource.
HDES did not specify when it intends to resolve these technical limitations or expand the service throughout the institution. The deaf community continues to face obstacles in communication with health professionals, even with the formal existence of a service created to address this need.
