Have you considered doing your elective with Work the World in Asia but can’t decide whether to choose Nepal or Sri Lanka? I completely understand your dilemma - both countries offer so much but are so different from each other. It's difficult to imagine what to expect or base your decision on.
To help you choose, I wanted to give you a little overview of the hospitals, the houses and what makes these destinations particularly special!
Clinical opportunities
In Nepal, we are based in Kathmandu, and we’ve partnered with a couple of large hospitals from both public and private sectors. The government hospital offers excellent insight into essential healthcare provision for Nepal’s working-class population. It's a good option for students interested in primary healthcare and general fields of medicine and nursing. It has proved particularly positive for general surgery, emergency, and obstetrics & gynaecology.
Placements in Nepal also cover more specialised fields, such as cardiology, ophthalmology and critical care, which are hosted at a large private teaching hospital. This provides tertiary-level care to the western region of Nepal, which has the only neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the area. Depending on your clinical interest, we can help you decide which option will suit you best and discuss the details once your trip is confirmed.
In Sri Lanka, the majority of Work the World students spend their time in one of the major government referral hospitals in the hill country capital of Kandy. This government hospital serves a cross-section of the general population and offers the broadest range of clinical cases. In fact, it is the biggest hospital we work with - 2000 beds (around 90 wards) - so the learning opportunities are endless. It offers a wide range of relatively busy departments under one roof, including general medicine, emergency treatment unit, paediatrics, obstetrics & gynaecology, general surgery, orthopaedics, cardiology, renal transplant unit, neurology and oncology. If your clinical interests include other fields, please contact us to check availability.
Add-Ons
We have created week-long 'add-on' experiences for every destination. They are designed to complement your placement and give you a better idea of the country's healthcare practices.
In Nepal, we offer a Village Healthcare Experience that takes you to the mountains to live with a family in a rural community. The experience is designed so that you can learn about the struggle to provide healthcare in remote parts of the country. You will work in a local health post in the mornings, treating various illnesses. Afternoons are spent with your local guide,e taking part in activities and getting involved in village life.
In Sri Lanka, you can dive into a vibrant culture to gain firsthand experience with its healthcare system by spending a week in a rural village. During your stay, you’ll be hosted by a local family who will warmly integrate you into their daily life, offering a genuine glimpse of what it means to live in a rural area.
Mornings will be dedicated to observing in a rural healthcare setting, where you'll join a local medical team as they deliver primary care services. Expect to encounter things like routine checkups, vaccination efforts, and possibly even traditional Ayurvedic treatments. The scarcity of resources here, especially when compared to hospitals in the UK, will highlight the challenges faced by healthcare providers in these remote areas.
In the afternoons, you can explore the scenic Sri Lankan countryside, wander through tea plantations, embark on hikes to stunning waterfalls, and visit the many national parks and temples that dot the landscape.
Free time and weekend activities!
Another big deciding factor is the weekend activities! The great thing about living in a house with other healthcare students is that you will never be short of friends, and organising a trip together as a group often means you can share costs and have fun! Nepal and Sri Lanka look small on the map – but there’s so much to do and places to see! It’s also easy to organise a safari in the Chitwan National Park, and a shopping trip to Kathmandu on your way home is a must. Sri Lanka is just as diverse, with many beautiful beaches along the South coast, safari in Yala National Park and the cultural triangle to the North, with many hidden temples and caves.
To get more information on our programmes in Kandy and Kathmandu complete the short enquiry form and our team will be in touch. Interested in our other Asian programmes, our latest blog post may help you.
