Medicine & Physiotherapy - NEPAL Project Info for Medicine in Nepal

Volunteer Medical Placements in Nepal

Our medical placements in Nepal are all based in and around Kathmandu. All the placements are in privately-funded medical organizations which are very important in Nepal since only 15% of the population is provided for by the National Health System. Volunteers work on social and health development projects focusing on providing medical care for the underprivileged.

Our Medicine Placements:

Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation Centre

This non-governmental, non-profit organization commits to helping children and adults with Cerebral Palsy and providing emotional and practical support to their parents. Every effort is made to get the parent fully involved in their child's rehabilitation on a long-term basis. The therapists who are involved in this centre establish a treatment plan for each child to teach the parents how to carry out exercises in order to keep the body flexible and prevent secondary disabilities. The centre consists of a counselor, two physiotherapists and two physio-assistants.

Volunteers work at the Cerebral Palsy Centre from 10:30 am until 5:30 pm 5 days per week. Volunteers are predominantly involved with physiotherapy treatment. There is also the opportunity to be involved in the Special Education Program for Children with Cerebral Palsy.

Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children (HRDC) at Banepa in the Kathmandu Valley

Volunteers in this placement work with doctors and are involved with care activities. This placement is particularly relevant for those who wish to specialize in paediatrics. The Centre is a leading referral centre for the functional mobility of physically disabled children. Most of the cases are neglected orthopaedic conditions, TB, polio, post-burn contractures and cerebral palsy.

Volunteers work at the hospital from 9 am until 3:30 pm from Monday to Friday. The mornings are spent following and observing the doctors on their rounds. During this time it is worth taking a note of any questions which can later be put to the doctor. After this, the volunteer will spend some time in the physiotherapy department, or the nursing department helping the kids when they are admitted. Volunteers spend the afternoons in the soft room teaching arts and crafts or reading to the children who are bed ridden. Volunteers can also observe surgeries.

Nepal Orthopaedic Hospital

This is Nepal's only charitable orthopaedic treatment centre. It is dedicated to providing the best available medical care in the field of traumatology, orthopaedics and rehabilitation to Nepalese people who cannot wait for or afford treatment elsewhere.

Volunteers work from 9 am until 3 pm 5 days per week, and follow a personal schedule. Volunteers are introduced to all the different departments: the OPD ward, the emergency ward, and the patient ward. Volunteers spend the day taking rounds with the doctors, observing surgeries and helping in the physiotherapy ward. Depending on your capability and the rules of the hospital, some volunteers can actively take part in hospital activities. Under supervision, previous volunteers have been allowed to do wound-cleaning and wound-dressings as well as assisting with setting up traction and with plaster and stitch removal.

At the Chhatrapati Free Clinic

Here, volunteers come into contact with many diseases in acute stages of development, impossible to find in Europe. Many of these conditions, with symptoms such as diarrhea and with their origins in malnutrition, are easily preventable, and you can be involved in the Center's campaigns to increase public awareness around health issues and to improve the quality of life by educating people about health and sanitation. You can also work in departments such as general health services, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, dental services, ear, nose and throat, orthopaedics, x-ray and ultrasound, diabetics and basic surgical and dressing services.

There are many opportunities. If you wish to let us know your particular interests or expertise we will try to arrange for you to work in that area.

Observing how the medical process works in a developing country, and more than that, being actively involved in it is an amazing opportunity, regardless of whether you are a pre-medical student or are already at university.