Translation and interpreting costs in hospitals and GP surgeries in Tayside and Fife have risen to £430,000 per year.
Figures obtained by The Courier found NHS Tayside spent £243,665 on face-to-face language interpretation in 2013/14 rising to £344,115 last year.
NHS Fife’s face-to-face interpreting costs were £65,854 in 2013/14 which increased to £87,438 as contacts rose from 1,379 to 1,923.
It is a legal requirement to provide interpreting services and make health care services accessible under the Equality Act (2010).
North East Scotland MSP Alex Johnstone said: “There will always be a need for translation services if tourists or visitors from abroad get sick, but some people who have moved here may have a good level of English, but may not feel confident in a medical setting.
“However, some taxpayers might be shocked to find a lot of their money is going towards translation services for the NHS for people who do not speak English, and this suggests the Scottish Government are not doing enough to support migrants to learn English.”
Legislation requires the NHS to deliver services to best help any member of the public, whether they have visual or hearing impairments, or are a tourist or refugee in Scotland.
A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “Communication should not be a barrier to accessing services or communicating with staff that work within the health care service.
“The provision of interpretation and translation services is essential to enable patients, carers and families or friends to communicate effectively, and enables patients and staff to access services and information fairly and equitably.”
Paul Hawkins, NHS Fife chief executive, said interpreting services ensure patients are able to make “informed decisions based on accurate information.”
He said: “We provide face-to-face interpreting, telephone interpreting and we arrange translation of healthcare information and medical records for community languages.
“We have British Sign Language interpreters available and provide assistance for patients or carers who have severe hearing and sight impairment to attend appointments from their home.”
Mr Hawkins said the reasons for the increase was a “combination of factors.”