This stunning archipelago is synonymous with white-sand beaches that grade into turquoise waters, pristine coral reefs teeming with marine life, and street food that fills the air with sweet and spicy perfumes. That’s not to mention the lush rainforests, indigenous tribes… the list goes on.

The Work The World House

Our Work the World house is your home away from home and the focal point of your experiences in Iloilo. The house will be a hub of activity throughout your clinical internship in The Philippines. You’ll share the house with other healthcare students and graduates from all over the world.

Our house is located in one of the best parts of the city. You’ll be close to the best restaurants, shopping centres, markets, street food vendors, karaoke bars… The list goes on. The Work the World house itself is spacious, welcoming, and decorated with traditional crafts, creating an authentic Filipino experience. With beautiful airy rooms and a tropical outdoor communal area, it’s an oasis of calm.

Jump in a jeepney (a sort of Jeep converted into a minibus), and you can head to the port to catch a boat to some of the archipelago’s most beautiful beaches. 

If you’re after a swimming pool, there are plenty of accessible boutique resorts offering full access.

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Healthcare Internships in The Philippines
Healthcare Internships in The Philippines

In-Country Team

Management team: Based in the house, they oversee your entire Work the World internship abroad - 24/7 - from the moment you land to the moment you leaveCatering team: cook a variety of both local cuisine and familiar home comforts, accommodating all dietary requirementsHousekeeper: keeps the house clean and tidy from top to bottom, making sure you're comfortableLanguage teacher: visits the house twice per-week. During their lessons, you’ll learn everyday phrases and clinical terminology to help you get more from your internship overseasSecurity team: Monitor the house 24/7 for extra peace of mind

Internships in Iloilo

Medical Internship, Philippines (Iloilo)

Medical Internships

Iloilo has a number of exceptional opportunities that are unique to internships here. You’ll observe practices that differ considerably from what you’re used to. The Philippines has a national health insurance scheme, but it has its limitations. As such, doctors here prescribe treatments based on patients’ financial solvency instead of looking at what the patient needs. This is not entirely dissimilar to the situation in America, but when many patients are economically disadvantaged in the extreme, the health consequences are often more severe. This is the best medical internship in the Philippines.

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Nursing Internship, Philippines (Iloilo)

Nursing Internships

Nurses run most of the wards in Iloilo, leaving patients’ families to attend to washing, feeding, and other aspects of personal care. This allows nurses to focus on more clinical aspects of the role. This clinical focus means you can get a breadth of real experience. The OPD here oversees everything from rabies treatments to paediatric care. A&E is also another popular department, where you'll see cases like dengue fever, and severe trauma sustained through construction accidents and RTAs. This is the best nursing internship in the Philippines bar none.

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Midwifery Internship, Philippines (Iloilo)

Midwifery Internships

The experiences midwives can expect from an internship in Iloilo are wide-ranging. One of the government hospitals we’re partnered with sees a significant number of births each day. For you, that means getting up close to deliveries. You can also spend time in our partner hospital’s milk bank, the OBG ward, OBG emergency, the antenatal clinic and of course the delivery room. All of the above will allow you to get a strong understanding of the differences between practices at home and in the Philippines.

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Physiotherapy Internship, Philippines (Iloilo)

Physical Therapy Internships

As a physical therapy student you’ll observe and help to treat a range of patients. Common conditions include Bell’s palsy, cerebral palsy, varying degrees of burns, and trauma. The department’s equipment is basic but functional and primarily handmade. But, you’ll also see techniques that you might not have seen before like TENS machines and paraffin therapy.

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Paramedicine Internship, Philippines (Iloilo)

Paramedicine Internships

On a paramedicine internship in Iloilo, you’ll be in Panay Island’s most highly-regarded tertiary referral hospitals. The hospital has been awarded one of the government’s prestigious ‘Center of Excellence’ titles and is the best hospital for internships in the Philippines. The hospital’s emergency services are housed in a central complex. This complex has distinct areas for triage, orthopaedics, internal medicine, trauma, resuscitation, ENT ophthalmology, and pediatrics. It is a busy department, and you’ll see everything from stab wounds right the way through to tropical diseases.

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Radiography Internship, Philippines (Iloilo)

Radiology Internships

The clinical experience aspiring radiologists get in Iloilo is eye-opening. Our partner hospital has a busy unit where you’ll spend time learning from local specialists. You may even see them using techniques that are entirely unfamiliar. The department has X-ray machines, but rather than the digital machines you’re used to, these use film. You can learn how to develop these images using the hospital’s darkroom, giving you insight into practices that have long been replaced in America. You’ll see orthopaedic patients, patients from internal medicine, patients with pulmonary diseases (resulting from the high number of smokers in the country). As far as radiology goes, there are two ECG machines, two-dimensional echo machines, and an array of other diagnostic imaging to explore.

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Occupational Therapy internships in The Philippines

Occupational Therapy Internships

On an occupational therapy internship in Iloilo, you’ll gain experience in the physical therapy department of our partner hospital. Engaging in a diverse range of conditions like Bell’s palsy, burns, trauma, cerebral palsy, and injuries sustained from traffic accidents, you’ll grow to understand the challenges delivering care in low-resource environments can bring. Gaining insight into the rehabilitation treatment plans of a wide range of patients and how they’re put together will create an experience that will broaden your understanding of healthcare in a global context.

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Pharmacy Internship, Philippines (Iloilo)

Pharmacy Internships

Choose to undertake a pharmacy internship in Iloilo and you’ll get insight into a unique system. This is a specialized placement in that you can rotate through five separate departmental satellite pharmacies, gaining practical experience in each. You also have the rare opportunity to observe in theatre, and spend time in OBG and antenatal departments. Here you’ll come to understand exactly how medicines are distributed given that there are so few resources.

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VILLAGE HEALTHCARE WEEK

In addition to your main placement in Iloilo, you can spend a week living in a rural community. You’ll immerse yourself in village life, learning what living like a local is like. You’ll even meet some of the village elders. Then, in the mornings, you'll be based at a local health clinic or district hospital, learning how to treat all manner of illnesses with extremely limited resources. Your afternoons are free, and you’ll enjoy activities like learning weaving, handicrafts and herbal medicines and playing traditional Filipino games. The barbecue and traditional dancing at the end of your stay are the perfect end to the placement.

VILLAGE EXPERIENCE

Fielder, Ryan
BPC - Paras	Alizadeh

"In paediatrics, I observed so many cases of congenital heart disease, birth defects, baby cannulations, and a PDA cannulation. It was fascinating."

Ronak Hemmady, University of Sheffield 2024

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"Finally, I believe the main benefit of undertaking my placement overseas was the privilege of seeing procedures I have never seen in Australia such as open-heart surgery and brain surgery".

Lara Humadi, James Cook University 2024

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"The hospital and physiotherapy department were a stark contrast to what I am used to at home. Patients in Iloilo depended on FES, TENS and ultrasound machines".

Louisa Hulls, University of Liverpool 2024

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"I am so happy I came to The Philippines for my medical elective. If you’re considering it - go for it”.

Freya Bailey, St George’s, University of London 2024

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"You’ll make memories that will last a lifetime — I know that I’ll fondly look back on my own memories of the experience".

Nadil Munasinghe, Monash University 2024

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What healthcare disciplines do Work the World cater for?

Work the World organize short-term educational healthcare internships for the following disciplines: 1. Nursing and Midwifery 2. Medical 3. Physical Therapy 4. Radiology 5. Pharmacy 6. Dentistry 7. Occupational Therapy 8. Paramedicine 9. Biomedical Science

WHAT IS THE WORK THE WORLD HOUSE LIKE IN VIETNAM?

Our house in Hue offers a peaceful retreat from the bustle of the city. The garden is beautiful, with a stream, an ancient wishing well, and a swimming pool. The house is located in the centre of Hue, within walking distance of the famous imperial city.

WHAT TRAVELLING OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE FOR ME WHILST I’M IN VIETNAM?

Hue is one of Vietnam’s most lively cities. You’ll find adventure around every corner and have the chance to immerse yourself in local culture. You can explore national parks, experience Vietnamese nightlife in the coastal cities and kick back on tropical beaches.

How much does it cost to do a Work the World internship?

Costs vary depending on where you go and the duration. Details of inclusions and costs can be found here