Travelteer Medical Elective Programme works in partnership with government and private hospitals in Sri Lanka. This programme gives medical students direct access to Sri Lankan healthcare system.
Now entering its second year, the Travelteer Medical Elective programme allows medical students access into one of the biggest government hospitals in Sri Lanka, giving direct understanding into one of the busiest environments in the world. Students will get to experience most departments of their choosing, sharing teaching with Sri Lankan medical students for an unforgettable experience.
Programme strategy
Short term
-Allow students access to biggest teaching hospital in South of Sri Lanka
-Provides insight for trainee doctors in private healthcare in Asia
-Provide teaching for British Medical Students in tropical healthcare systems
-To set up sustainable volunteer clinics with local doctors to benefit disadvantaged communities
Projects
-Private Hospital
You will have an opportunity to visit hospitals in South Sri Lanka. Learn directly from doctors in busy government hospitals. This is a great opportunity for you to learn about a different healthcare system. You will rotate through different hospital departments for a broader range of experience. The private hospitals provide a structured observational and informative approach while giving the volunteers a broad insight into the medical facilities. You get an incredible chance to shadow some incredible consultants throughout clinics, surgery lists and ward rounds. Unlike in the UK, general surgeons in Sri Lanka are incredibly talented and operate throughout a variety of fields.
-Government Hospital
Your role at the hospital will be purely observational learning from doctors and other medical staff. You will be able to witness consultations and procedures, however, there might be an opportunity for you to get involved in hands-on activities. You will usually be assigned a specific clinical member within a certain department to mentor you. You will witness a variety of cases which offers a fantastic contrast to what you might find during the placement in the hospitals. Here is where most patients present, with many of them not having access to a General Practitioner like in the UK. Whilst here, expect to help clerk in and triage new patients, many of whom will speak very little English. The opportunity to see how a Sri Lankan hospital functions is fascinating and is an eye-opening experience!
-Health Clinic
We are using local clinicians to set up community clinics that helps local people to access healthcare at a primary care level as this is currently unavailable to most Sri Lankans. Many people in Sri Lanka do not have regular access to basic healthcare. Working on this project gives you a great opportunity to get close up clinical exposure and gain deeper understanding of health care system in the developing world. Treatments here can be very basic and can really show just how basic some aspects of Sri Lankan health care really are. This is one of the most authentic experiences of Sri Lankan health care you can get and is worth getting stuck into.
-Departments available
Volunteers will get to experience most departments of their choosing, sharing teaching with Sri Lankan medical students for an unforgettable experience. The departments include General Surgery, Orthopaedics, General Medicine, Paediatrics, Emergency Treatment Unit, Biochemistry Lab, Pathology, Ward Rounds, Theatre Lists, etc.
You can join the team anytime from January to September. We offer placements from 2 weeks to 9 months! You will volunteer for approx. 6 hours a day from Monday to Friday each week – which means you have your evenings and weekends off to spend at the beach or travel!
Fundraising
Fundraising threshold is £75 per week you volunteer (max £300). 100% of this money goes to Travelteer Impact, our UK registered charity and then onto the projects in the form of equipment and facilities. Anything over this amount can be reimbursed towards your flights.
Cost breakdowns
Registration fee: £159
This is used to access our services and to cover our UK operation costs. Once you have paid this, you can start your fundraising and look at booking dates with our team.
Living Cost: £24
Accommodation: £10 a night
Food: £8 a day
Local transport: £6 a day
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