If you’re a healthcare professional or student seeking to help the world the best way you know how, look no further. Volunteer in Thailand in the Healthcare program and be part of the project that brings medical relief to the people. Healthcare in Thailand is expensive and unaffordable for extremely poor. In rural areas of the country, healthcare facilities are almost non-existent, basic and scarce at best. Many Thais have to travel far and wide to get medical treatment, and this is why people are still dying of treatable disease. New Hope works with local organizations that are striving to stop this from happening. Volunteers will be placed in a combination of local hospitals, rural community clinics and childcare centers. Our volunteers will work alongside the local doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to provide treatment to the Thais. Take part in the Healthcare project, and while you’re helping the locals to lead healthier lives, add some spice to your life and go on a gastronomical adventure for Thai cuisine!

As a volunteer in the healthcare volunteer project in Thailand, you will work 4 days a week and will have Friday to Sunday off. You will start your work at 9 pm and finish around 3 pm. Depending on your individual interests and skills, and on the needs of the local staff, your daily activities involve, but are not limited to:

• Assist with general check-ups and examinations of patients
• Measurement of blood pressure, temperature, height and weight of patients
• Helping out at health camps
• Dispensing medications and immunizations
• Treating minor injuries or wounds
• OPD or out-patient services
• Providing tips and education to patients on health, nutrition and sanitation
• Counseling patients
• Assisting hospital administration
• Maternal help and childcare and assisting midwives on visits
• Participate in home visits in rural areas to help with vaccinations and/or care for immobilized patients.

Medical volunteers will shadow local doctors and learn mostly from observation. Due to the increased risks involved and raised medical regulations, volunteers cannot treat patients or become involved in surgery during the project.

By volunteering in Thailand in the Healthcare project, you’ll be working with local organizations who are striving to make health treatment possible to impoverished communities. Local health professionals are working their hardest to treat as many patients as they can, but the number of patients received is always overwhelming. Your role as a volunteer is to lighten their burden and assist with routine tasks. Depending on your experience and interests, there are various fields in healthcare in Thailand that you can assist with. The healthcare understanding and practical experience that you take away from this project will undoubtedly be valuable and eye-opening.

Applicants interested to join this program must possess healthcare certification, such as: ID as a medical student, EMT, paramedic certification, nursing, physical therapy, midwifery or physician’s credentials. We do not permit volunteers without medical credentials to participate in this program due to the potential risk. This project also requires a copy of the volunteer’s resume which clearly documents the education and/or professional credentials, prior to arrival. The projects will also require an official copy of the credentials. Depending on your specific placement and host institution, additional application materials may be required.

This project is located in Surin.

Surin is located in the northeast region of Thailand about 450 kms from Bangkok and has a population of about 100,000. The town is known for its elephant festivals, silk, jasmine rice, ruins, temples and Buddhist shrines. Volunteers can enjoy the City Pillar Shrine, Wat Burapharam, Surin National Museum, art galleries, Phanom Sawai Forest Park, Khmer ruins, Ban Buthom Basketry Village, handicraft markets, wildlife sanctuaries, etc. Surin is also known for its incredibly friendly people.

During the project, volunteers will have the weekend to travel around Thailand and enjoy the Thai culture and landscape. The southern part of Thailand is known for its pristine beaches and is very popular with tourists. The northern areas include forests and hills and have many popular trekking and hiking destinations. The urban centers of Chiang Mai and Bangkok are famous for night life, good restaurants and also have many other attractions like temples, markets and museums.