Medical Doctors Volunteering Programs in Africa, & Sri Lanka
Reasons to Volunteer abroad as a Doctor or Surgeon with Us
Doctor volunteering abroad with Give A Fig Volunteering offers significant benefits. You will be working with a support network that begins before you arrive. We facilitates your medical volunteer international program experience by handling the local licensing process on your behalf, which enables you to legally practice medicine in our linked hospitals in each partner organisation’s country’s health care system.
Whilst most organisations setting up volunteer work for doctors expect you to pay your own way, our study of prices shows that our volunteering work for doctors abroad is significantly cheaper than that charged by many others, and without any loss of quality or depth of experience.
“The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease”
- William Osler -
Page updated October 2023
| This Page | Info |
|---|---|
| Doctors | - |
| Reasons to Volunteer with GAFV | Why GAFV are the best company for doctors to volunteer with |
| The benefits of volunteering as a Dr | A look at the win-wins of volunteering abroad as a Dr |
| Criteria for volunteering with GAFV as a Dr | The licencing and professioanl qualifications necessary to volunteer abroad with us as a dr |
| Sri Lanka | Our Sri Lanka program plus cost outline |
| Ghana | Our Ghana program plus cost outline |
| Kenya | Our Kenya program plus cost outline |
| Uganda | Our Uganda program plus cost outline |
What are the benefits of Volunteering abroad as a Doctor
Global Healthcare Experience: Volunteering abroad as a Doctor exposes healthcare professionals to a wide range of medical conditions form the regions you go to, as well as treatment approaches reflective of the culture and society you are in.
Immediate Community Impact: The communities you serve gain from the benefit of your skills
Capacity Building: skills and knowledge transition has the potential to build the capacity of the medical staff you work alongside in the low-resource setting, making you an integral part of sustainable healthcare development.
Clinical Skill Enhancement: volunteering in low-income countries as a doctor provides opportunities for you to solve problems, adapt medical care, and grow as a resourceful healthcare provider through meeting challenges, medical complications, tropical diseases, and levels of injury you may not otherwise be exposed to.
Increased Cultural Competency: Volunteering abroad enables Doctors and surgeons to better understand cultural differences in healthcare practices, and beliefs about the cause and treatment of illnesses, ultimately improving your skills and patient care in western countries where diverse populations live.
Networking Opportunities: Working alongside healthcare professionals from different countries and backgrounds allows doctors to build a global network, fostering collaboration and the exchange of medical knowledge.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration: You'll often work as part of a small team affording you the opportunity to develop skills in resource allocation, as well as cross-cultural medical discussion of approaches.
Soft-skills Development: Beyond medical expertise, volunteering as a medical Doctor overseas enables you to hone essential soft-skills such as communication, and teamwork, and influence - the ability to lead and manage through gaining the respect of your colleagues, which are invaluable in any workplace setting.
Career Path Widening: Volunteering abroad as a doctor can help you identify diverse career paths for your professional life while contributing significantly to your personal and career development. Such experience can be invaluable when demonstrating the experience to apply to work as a doctor:
with MSF who seek individuals who can thrive in diverse, demanding, and resource-constrained environments. Volunteering with us as a doctor showcases your commitment to humanitarian work, and can be part a part of developing your skills and mindset to excel in such a role.
or on islands, such as Saint Helena, where healthcare is provided through the UK government, for example, and a wide skill set is needed due to the lower levels of staffing
In conclusion, volunteering abroad as a Doctor offers a unique opportunity to make immediate and lasting contributions to global healthcare. It enhances your clinical and non-clinical skills, fosters personal and professional growth, and leaves a positive mark on the communities you serve both in the short and long term.
What qualifications and experience do I need to Volunteer as a Doctor abroad with Give A Fig Volunteering?
(if you do not meet the criteria listed, you may volunteer under an Observership program in Sri Lanka)
Criteria necessary to volunteer overseas with us as a doctor
Criteria 1: for volunteering in Ghana; Kenya; Uganda; Sri Lanka
Be licenced to practice as a doctor in the GCC; UK; EU; Schengen Zone; HK; Singapore; USA; Canda; Australia; NZ
and
have at least 2 years’ experience as a Dr in a hospital setting after passing the equivalent of the UK’s Foundation Programme, the USA’s GME program, or EU equivalent
Or
Have been previously been licenced in the Countries in ‘1’, but have now retired
OR
Have passed the the UK’s F2, or its Schengen Zone equivalent, or 1 year of the USA’s GME, if your qualifying licence for these countries’ programs was awarded outside of the countries in Criteria 1 and you have 2 years experience working as a doctor in the country of your licence
If you meet Criteria 1, go to Criteria 3
Criteria 2: for volunteering in Ghana; Kenya; Uganda
In keeping with US practice for registration with the ECFMG, the university in which you completed your medical training must be listed in the World Medical Education Directory
You must be currently licenced as a Dr in your country of residence
You must have a minimum of 4 years’ experience working in a hospital as a licenced doctor since graduating with a degree from medical school
At least 2 of those 4 years must have been in a hospital directly linked to one of the medical training institutes listed in the WMED
Criteria 3
before acceptance, all candidates must provide:
PDF copies of all relevant qualifications, licencing, and passport
2 professional references
- on headed paper
- sent via a works email address
police clearances covering the countries you have worked in or lived in for longer than 12 months over the previous 5 years
If you are not licenced in the countries of Criteria 1, and you are not on the GME or F2 programme, or its EU equivalent:
the copies of your qualifying certificates, registration and licencing as a Dr, and your passport must be signed by a solicitor or notary as true copies
Licencing│Approval costs
For pre-application checks for national Licence (Sri Lanka│Kenya), or local Approval (Ghana│Uganda) with relevant authorities, a non-refundable admin fee of US $125 (Ghana│Uganda│Kenya) is charged. An additional $75 for the licence is charged for Sri Lanka.
If successful in meeting the criteria for Licencing│Approval, the relevant documentation shall be obtained for you, and copies forwarded to you.
In Kenya, you will also need to apply in person in Nairobi for the licence (valid for 1 year). This process can take up to 5 working days, and additional costs (our homestay accommodation, or in a hotel) will be required. There is also a US $60 licence fee (valid for one year) to be paid*. The pre-approval checks for kenya will enable us to verify that you will qualify for licencing in Kenya prior to arrival.
*correct as of October 2023
Volunteer Doctor opportunities in Sri Lanka
Location: Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura
Weeks: 2 - 48
Code: SL-MD-TH
Volunteer Doctor Placement Description
The teaching hospital at Anuradhapura offers a full range of specialist and sub-specialist departments for you to work in. 5-7 day specialised programmes are also run periodically for elective students, which you can join.
Your placement and work can be discussed with the hospital prior to arrival, which we can do on your behalf or directly as you choose
You will be licenced to work in Sri Lanka after registration
The Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital is large, and has a very good local reputation, based not only upon current practice, but also upon its legendary status as a frontline hospital during the civil war. The Sri Lankans take a great deal of pride in their medical system and the quality of training of their Drs, many of whom have worked in the UK and returned, whilst now, many others are leaving to work in Australia, which seems to be their favoured destination, and creating a brain drain that many are viewing as a crisis.
Impact:
You will gain a wealth of experience at this major teaching hospital, gaining first-hand experience of health care in this country.
Price
The price for Volunteering as a Doctor in Sri Lanka includes:
qualifications check, and licence application
licencing to practice in Sri Lanka
management and support throughout
5/7 days half board (with an option for full board)
2/7 days B&B
Volunteering for Doctors in Ghana
Country: Ghana
Location: 20km west of Accra
Weeks: 2 - 12
Code: Gh-MD-HC
Placement Description:
There are a number of local hospitals to your accommodation at which you may volunteer as a doctor. The local health board’s approval of your qualifications and licence will allow you to volunteer as a doctor in Ghana for up to 12 weeks, without having to sit the national medical board exam and be formally registered.
The medical settings:
Local Clinic and health centre: located within walking distance of your accommodation, and is a general medical placement treating all comers, and referring to specialist hospitals
Local rural hospital: this offers a number of specialisms and sub-specialisms and is located a taxi ride from your accommodation, costing US $1.25 per one way journey
major Teaching Hospital: located on the western outskirts of Accra, offeringthe widest range of specialism and sub-specialisms
psychiatric hospital: this is a separate hospital, located 25 mins by taxi form your accommodation
Supervision and support will be in place throughout your stay from both our project partners who are health professionals, and the hospital you select to go to.
Price
The price for Volunteering as a Doctor in Ghana includes:
qualifications, licence check, and medical board approval to practice as a volunteer doctor in Ghana
visa application and support, which must be obtained through our government registered partner organisation
hospital placement fee
placement management, and support throughout
airport pick-up to your accommodation base]
orientation
Half Board 7/7 days
you are asked to bring medical equipment with you as a donation - gloves, masks etc
Volunteer Doctor in Kenya
Location: various settings
Weeks: 2 - 52
Code: Ke_ME_HC
Volunteer Doctor Kenya
Your volunteering as a doctor in Kenya can be carried out at range of settings, dependent on your interests. These can include hospitals and clinics, government, and private at various locations across Kenya - including the foothills of the equatorial rainforest in the west, the central area, the shores of Lake Victoria, and amongst the traditional Maasai people of the South centre
Your programme is supervised in the hospitals, and managed in Kenya by our partner organization.
Impact: your elective provides much needed support to the medical professionals there, and the hospitals appreciate you bringing with you medical equipment that may be donated to the hospitals (gloves, stethoscopes…)
The price for Volunteering as a Doctor in Kenya includes:
licencing management and support
visa management and support
qualifications, and pre-licence approval check
airport pick-up, and transfer to the temporary accommodation in Nairobi for licencing
orientation
transfer from Nairobi to your chosen hospital
Half Board 7/7 days
placement management and support
transfer from placement to airport
Volunteering as a doctor in Uganda
Location: SW Uganda
Weeks: 2 - 12
Code: Ug_ME_HB
Elective Description:
With acceptance of your overseas licencing, and medical qualifications by the local health board, you are able to practice as a doctor in Uganda for 12 weeks.
The medical electives we offer in Uganda take place in a teaching hospital, where a wide range of specialisms are practised. At this hospital we offer:
surgery
pediatrics
maternity
Your program is supervised in the hospitals, and managed in Uganda by our partner organisation.
Impact: your placement provides much needed support to the medical professionals there, and the hospitals appreciate you bringing with you medical equipment that may be donated to the hospitals (gloves, stethoscopes…)
Price
the placement cost includes:
pre-arrival support, licencing and qualification checks, and local acceptance of the same
visa support
airport transfer by public transport (Below groups of 6, private transport is expensive)
7/7 homestay accommodation and 3/3 meals per day
weekly hospital placement charge
24/7 in-country management and support