The Problem

Millions of people in the U.S. struggle to understand over-the-counter medicine labels. In Alameda County—where I live— almost 50% of households speak a language other than English. For many of these families, reading a medication label can be confusing, unclear, or even impossible. This creates a real safety risk, especially for seniors or those managing multiple medications.

Labels also come with tiny text, technical terms, and missing translations. Even English speakers sometimes misread them. But for non-English speakers or people with low vision, the challenge is much worse—and too often overlooked.

Medication errors caused by misunderstanding labels can lead to serious health problems, including accidental overdoses or missed warnings. Yet, most apps and pharmacies still don’t provide easy-to-read, translated medication information.

That’s why I created MedLingual. I wanted to build a simple, AI-powered tool that anyone could use to understand their medications safely, in their own language, and in a format that’s easy to read.