Medicine in Nepal

Medical placements in Nepal are based in and around Kathmandu. You will be working on social and health development projects focussing on providing medical care for the underprivileged. This is a particularly important service in a country such as Nepal where the National Health System provides for only 15% of the population.

Work at the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children (HRDC), at Banepa in the Kathmandu Valley involves a unique combination of working with doctors and being involved with care activities, and is particularly relevant for those who wish to specialise 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.

"We spent the majority of our time at HRDC with the children, playing and talking. Many of the children having orthopaedic surgery had to stay in the hospital anything from a few weeks to two years and were often very bored. I hope that in some way we relieved their boredom and gave them the affection and attention they deserved."
Katie Fuller Nepal

Nepal Orthopaedic Hospital 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. 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 you will come into contact with many diseases in acute stages of development, impossible to find in Europe. Many of these conditions, with symptoms such as diarrhoea and with their origins in malnutrition, are easily preventable, and you can be involved in the Centre's campaigns to increase public awareness around health issues and to impove 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.

To read a more detailed information about this project, you may visit our Volunteer Medicine & Physiotherapy in Nepal specialized website.