Medical Internships in Sri Lanka

Volunteer consulting child

Interning on a Medicine & Healthcare internship in Sri Lanka is an eye-opening experience. As a Medicine & Healthcare intern you will gain access to a great deal of observational experience in a variety of departments. The facilities are generally of a basic standard.

We have Medical & Healthcare internships based in the coastal towns of Panadura and Kalutara (about 45km south of Colombo) and also in Galle (115km south of Colombo). Interns normally work in a variety of departments on a two week rotation syste; the most common departments are our interns observe are General Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternity, ENT and Pediatrics. It is also possible to spend a few days interning in Neurology, the mortuary, Rheumatology and the chest clinic. If you let us know your particular interests, we can usually arrange for you to intern within your preferred areas.

Many interns 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 high school intern helped deliver five babies on just one day! This all varies based on the doctor, length of stay, and relationship with the hospital staff so please come prepared to only observe.

There are also opportunities to spend time in some specialized clinics, which usually include traditional Ayurvedic medicine. This will give you a well-rounded understanding of medicine and healthcare in Sri Lanka.

Volunteer Profile

Name: Anne Gleason
Project & Country: Medicine - Sri Lanka
Year: 2005
Future Plans: Nursing School

My medical internship with Projects Abroad inspired my career in health care. The doctors and nurses at Nagoda hospital patiently explained each procedure, discussed common diseases and treatments, and taught me about the socioeconomic and cultural dimensions to health care in Sri Lanka. Two years later, I returned to Sri Lanka and collaborated with Projects Abroad staff to establish a community health and school nutrition project in a rural village. Since July 2007, the Healthy Community Curry Kitchen has been providing daily school lunch and bi-monthly community health clinics and education. I am currently pursuing a career as a Family Nurse Practitioner and plan to work in medically underserved communities in the U.S. and abroad.

Physical Therapy, Nursing and Midwifery Internships in Sri Lanka

Medical volunteer

If you wish to intern in Sri Lanka as a qualified Physical Therapist, Nurse or Midwife the hospitals and clinics we work with are very willing to receive you. If you are currently training, or even just considering one of these areas as a future career, you can still have a role to play: shadowing professionals who will be able to teach you all about the field they work in.

Medical Elective Internships in Sri Lanka

You can do an Elective in Sri Lanka in Medicine, Physical Therapy, Nursing and Midwifery

If you are currently enrolled in medical school and wish to do your elective in Sri Lanka, you will most likely be working in a large hospital, an hour outside of Colombo. You will shadow one of our supervising doctors who are all very experienced at working with medical and healthcare students, as they always have a large number of native students in training there. They will be eager to test out your knowledge, as well as give you the benefit of their training and experience.

Outside of the hospital you will live with a local host family, who will provide you with all your meals outside of your normal working hours. When you aren’t at work there is plenty to do in the local area, including visits some of the most beautiful beaches in Asia, and there is always a substantial Projects Abroad community of volunteers and interns available to spend time with.