Medical Experience in the Developing World
Download Leaflet on Elective and Pre-Clinical Placements (PDF 3MB)
Medical placements are available to students and professionals at all levels of study and experience. They are tailored to suit your background and, wherever possible, to meet your interests in terms of rotations and specialities.
The program costs are usually around the same as arranging a placement yourself, without the worry and uncertainty.
While on your medical placement, you are sure to see a huge gulf in medical standards between the developed and developing worlds. Hospitals are often poorly resourced with very different techniques and approaches to conditions.
This, combined with a lack of access and funds to pay for routine medical treatment, often causes the patients you see to have advanced illnesses and conditions now rarely treated in the developed world.
As a first hand experience of developing world medicine, these placements offer the opportunity to learn from local professionals and to make yourself useful in the setting, whether it is a hospital, clinic or outreach setting.
Medical Electives and Experience for Students
Projects Abroad specialises in arranging medical placements and has been doing so for nearly 20 years, with our local, full time staff and network of local professional supervisors, medical students at all stages of their studies can choose from placements which…
- Offer a close up insight into developing world medicine, conditions, resources, and techniques.
- Offer a wide range of rotations
- Give the chance to learn and contribute at the same time.
- Are in hospitals, clinics and outreach programs, in countries such as Tanzania, China, Nepal, Ghana, Kenya, India and Togo.
- Are safe and well supported - Projects Abroad local staff are on hand 24/7 for pick ups, orientation, problem solving, and planning weekend trips.
- Are sociable - whether you travel with your friends in a group, or individually, you'll always have the support of other likeminded medical students from around the world to socialise with in your down time.
- Are culturally rich - students live with host families to gain a real cultural insight and work alongside local professionals.
- Are open to students at any level of their studies.
- Can be taken at any time - there are no set start dates or program durations, students can when they want, for as long as they want.
The cost of the placements covers accommodation, food, travel, medical and indemnity insurance, program fees, local 24/7 support, transfers, advice and preparation.
If you are planning to do an elective please visit Medical Elective Students page.
Medical Internships Overseas
"The medical program was extremely beneficial and really gave me an insight into the Indian medical system. It has definitely reconfirmed my wish to become a doctor. I saw several operations that I wouldn't have seen until my fourth or fifth year at medical school." Olivia Wolff, Medical intern in India
Traditional Medicine Internships Abroad
In India, China and Sri Lanka, there are unrivalled opportunities for those who are interested in the practice of traditional medicine.
Many communities in developing countries rely mainly on treatments taken directly from medicinal plants, where facilities are sparse. In this day and age, some experience of cures and preventions that have been used for thousands of years, using locally available natural products, is valuable for those of us who live in the drug-dependent west.
You can opt to combine traditional and western practices during your internship abroad, thereby creating an all around medical experience. We can also arrange for you to spend some time in an Acupuncture clinic in Mongolia.