Are you a medical student, doctor, nurse or other medical professional?

Would you love to have the opportunity to gain medical volunteer abroad experience in the amazing country of Sri Lanka?

Do you feel that sharing your skills with disadvantaged people is an important thing to do for humanity? If so then NEW HOPE Volunteers’ Sri Lanka medical program can deliver all of this, along with lots of precious memories and plenty of life changing experiences.

A medical volunteer experience in Sri Lanka is an eye-opening experience, providing you with a great deal of international work-experience in a variety of departments. We have medical volunteer and internships based in The Teaching Hospital Karapitiya (THK). THK is the largest Tertiary care center in the Southern Province, and it was established in 1982.

THK is the main training facility for the Faculty of Medicine. It consists of 1560 beds, 54 wards, and several other units. Volunteers normally work in several departments, such as general medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, ENT, and pediatrics, and you can also arrange to spend a few days in specialist areas like neurology, rheumatology, the mortuary and clinics.

There’s plenty of choice, and if you let us know which areas are of most interest to you we will do our best to arrange placements which are perfect for you.


Your role as a Medical volunteer

Your responsibilities in the medical program in Sri lanka depends on your level of education, experience, expertise. If you are a medical student your role may range from observation to basic treatment. However, if you are a medical expert you will be involving in checking over and treating patients. 

Sample activities:

  • Provide basic health care
  • Provide first aid
  • Administer medication
  • Check patients and prescribe medication when needed
  • Stitch and dress wounds
  • Help patients with physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Record patient details and vital signs including height, weight, blood pressure, body temperature, etc
  • Give immunizations
  • Promote health education
  • Help with personal hygiene

Volunteers never perform any surgeries, or similar procedures.


Skills and Qualifications

All medical students, and professionals with a medical background, can be part of the Sri Lanka medical volunteering program. We welcome applications from physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, midwives, gynecologists, dentists, paramedics, EMTs, physical therapists, and more; plus of course students in these areas are eligible too.

Student who join one of our medical programs in Sri Lanka have the rare chance to spend time with medical experts and specialists, help treat patients in need, and learn about disease and conditions which may be completely new to you.

Pre-med students get a lot out of this Sri Lanka medical volunteer abroad program as it is possible to get at least five hours a day of practical experience under your belt before beginning your college career. This time is supervised by a local expert, and documented proof of participation is provided. Medical volunteers in Sri Lanka are matched with programs in various locations, depending on the specialist medical field chosen to work in. NEW HOPE Volunteers staff will send final details of your project placement before you arrive in country.

Room and Food

NEW HOPE Volunteers’ volunteer programs in Sri Lanka weekly fees cover the cost of volunteers’ meals and accommodation throughout both projects and travel options. Three meals a day, (breakfast, lunch and dinner), are provided. They will be made from local ingredients, and feature traditional cuisine choices for Sri Lanka.

Our meal program can accommodate vegetarian needs; however, we are not able to provide for other dietary restrictions. Food and drinks outside of mealtimes are the volunteer’s responsibility. In most cases, there are restaurants and markets nearby the homes in which our volunteers stay.

During your volunteering work in Sri Lanka, we normally place our volunteers with a host family. Volunteers usually have a single bedroom, but may occasionally share a room with another volunteer of the same gender. Our host families are chosen carefully, and are esteemed community members who have experience in the realm of hosting international travelers.

Host family residences are in comfortable, clean and safe neighborhoods and rooms are simply furnished and tidy. Staying with a host family can offer the support system a volunteer will crave during their program, and it is a great way to learn about a host country’s culture and customs.

Most volunteers who have stayed with a host family during their volunteering overseas in Sri Lanka project note that this truly enriched their entire experience abroad.

Orphanage volunteers might have the opportunity to stay on site with the children, as many orphanages provide private rooms for international volunteers. These volunteer rooms will normally be shared with a volunteer of the same gender.

Specific details regarding accommodations, food and contact details for your local coordinator will be provided in personalized volunteer placement documentation, prior to arrival for your volunteer opportunity in Sri Lanka.