Medicine in Srilanka

Sri Lanka offers varied work for pre-university students, undergraduates and medical students taking an elective.

We have medical placements based in the coastal towns of Panadura and Kalutara (about 45km south of Colombo) and also in Galle (115km south of Colombo).

Volunteers normally work in a variety of departments on a two week rotation system, with common departments being General Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the Labour Ward, ENT and Paediatrics. It is also possible to spend a few days working in Neurology, the mortuary, rheumatology and the chest clinic. If you let us know your particular interests, we can usually arrange for you to work within your areas of preference.

The amount of hands-on experience that volunteers can gain depends on your level of knowledge and experience, but also your level of enthusiasm and commitment. Many volunteers do receive the chance to get much more involved in the procedures than would be possible in your local hospital at home. For example one pre-university volunteer helped deliver five babies in one day on her placement.

There are also opportunities to spend time in some specialised clinics - usually including some traditional ayurvedic experience. This will give you a well-rounded understanding of medicine in Sri Lanka and in the developing world in general.

To read a more detailed information about this project, you may visit our Volunteer Medicine & Physiotherapy in Sri Lanka specialized website.