(214) 390-7947 (Overseas Callers)

Toll-Free: 1-800-675-2504 (US/Canada)

01273 93 0514 (UK ), (02) 8006 6640 (Australia)


Nepal Medical Volunteer

Are you pursuing a career in healthcare? Would you like to gain experience in hospitals and clinics while helping people in need?

Nepal is a captivating country that will make you see the world in a new way. Whether you are trekking up a snow capped peak, paragliding over a lake in Pokhara, or visiting shrines and temples in Kathmandu, Nepal will surprise and delight you.

Unfortunately, Nepal is a poor country and the majority of people are living in poverty with limited access to medical facilities. The government of Nepal is trying to help poor people by setting up government hospitals and clinics but these medical facilities lack the necessary resources and manpower so foreignvolunteers are welcomed with open arms.

As a medical volunteer in Nepal, you will work in public and community hospitals (semi-governmental) as an assistant to the doctor. You will learn from observing real-life cases and provide much needed help to Nepalese patients struggling to navigate an underfunded healthcare system. This will give you invaluable experience in the medical field that will greatly benefit you in the future.

You can also work as a medical volunteer in a private hospital located at Ratnanagar, Chitwan. Medical program in Chitwan is indeed an amazing opportunity for you to shadow local doctors and nurses as they treat a variety of diseases. You can shadow local doctors in emergency ward, opd ward, pathology, radiology, Ot, dialysis, indoor services, hospital pharmacy, immunization and more. This will give you invaluable experience in the medical field that will greatly benefit you in the future.

Are you interested in making the world a better place while gaining valuable medial experience? Then contact us today to learn more about becoming a medical volunteer abroad in Nepal!

Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.

Volunteers’ Responsibilities & Impact

This project is an amazing chance to shadow and observe local doctors and nurses as they treat a variety of cases for patients that are in desperate need of medical care. Occasionally, you will also help organize health camps and educate locals on health, nutrition, and sanitation to improve their quality of life. Due to strict regulations, you will not be treating patients or performing procedures.

  • Prep-Room duties – blood and urine testing, body measurements such as weight, temperature, sugar levels, blood pressure, etc.
  • Shadow local doctors in emergency ward, opd ward, pathology, radiology, Ot, dialysis, indoor services, hospital pharmacy, immunization and more.
  • Administrative/reception duties and updating of patient files/records
  • Observation work with doctors and therapists
  • Assist with fundraising and medical awareness programs

As a healthcare volunteer in Nepal, you will gain invaluable experience observing doctors and nurses in a variety of medical settings which will help prepare you for a future in the medical field.


Skills and Qualifications:

In order to join this program, you must be a medical student or a healthcare professional, and able to present a medical student id or reference letter or medical certificate from an accredited institution. You also need to present a motivation letter and bring a scrub or white coat (apron) along with you. We encourage you to let us know about your background as volunteer placements vary based on education, skills and experience. Volunteers are expected to be patient and should have a strong willingness to work with deprived communities.


As a medical volunteer your days will be rewarding, educational and filled with new and exciting experiences that will make every day fun and interesting.

Your hours worked and specific tasks will vary considerably based on your placement, but we’re sure you’re probably wondering what a typical day might look like volunteering in healthcare in Nepal. Here’s a sample schedule to give you an idea.

First Day: On your first day, you will be escorted to your placement by our local coordinator and introduced to the hard-working medical professionals you will be shadowing. You’ll undergo an orientation where you’ll learn all about your project work, schedule, safety measures, and the customs and culture of Nepal.

Weekdays: Your work begins in earnest on the second day and a typical volunteer day is as follows:

7.00 to 7.30 AM: Enjoy a traditional breakfast at your accommodation.

7.45 AM: Head out for an exciting day as a medical volunteer in Nepal.

12.00 PM: Break for lunch. Spend the time connecting with your fellow volunteers and project staffand make friends from around the world!

3.00 PM: Work at the placement usually ends. You’ll be free to travel home, prepare for the next day or do some shopping and sightseeing.

Progama Date

Our Fees

IFRE is the most trusted and respected volunteer abroad organization in the world, and also the most affordable. We’re dedicated to providing the highest quality volunteer programs at the lowest fees, which make it possible for everyone, especially students, to travel internationally and make a positive impact in the lives of others.

We believe in 100% transparency. Rest assured, we never use middlemen. Your one-time registration fee of $299 covers our administrative costs. The low weekly program fee goes directly to your host family, and includes housing, food, project donation and minor expenses. IFRE is a non-profit organization, so your program fees are tax deductible.

Program Dates

IFRE programs begin every Monday year-round. If you have travel constraints, you can still start your chosen program on any day of the year.

Nepal Medical Volunteer Fee (US$)

Weeks Kathmandu/Chitwan (Medical)
1   $255
2   $500
3   $675
4   $850
5   $1025
6   $1,200
7   $1,375
8   $1,550
9   $1,725
10   $1,900
11   $2,075
12   $2,250

Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day »

Language and Culture Program fee $250

How your fee is allocated?

Program Fees Cover:

  • Accommodation (host family)
  • Food (only breakfast and dinnery)
  • Program Orientation
  • In-country support
  • Personalized project
  • Pre-departure information
  • Certificate of completion
  • Fundraising ideas and letters
  • Discount for returning volunteers

Program Fees Exclude:

  • Visas
  • Airfare
  • Personal expenses on soft drinks and foods
  • Daily transportation
  • Airport return transfer

Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.

Accommodation and Meal

As a medical volunteer in Nepal, IFRE makes sure you have safe and comfortable housing and three local meals a day. Depending on your placement, you’ll either be staying in our 2-story volunteer house with fellow volunteers from around the world, or you’ll be staying with a welcoming and socially respected Nepali host family.

Learn more about your housing and food in Nepal.


Free Time and Weekends Exploration

You’ll have your weekends and evenings free, so make the most of them! Spend the time teaming up with fellow volunteers and making friends from around the world, exploring Nepal and going on adventures!

Discover what to do in your free time in Nepal!


Safety and In Country Support

While volunteering in healthcare in Nepal, we make sure you are safe, secure, and satisfied with your experience. We offer pre-trip guidance, carefully vet and plan every aspect of your volunteer abroad experience, and back you up with the support of a stellar in-country team that you can reach out to at any time if you need assistance.

Read more about IFRE’s safety in-country support.

Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.

Medical Volunteer in Nepal: FAQs

There’s a lot that goes into planning a volunteer trip abroad, and it’s only natural that you have a lot of questions about how it all works. Here are some answers for you:

Arrival and departure

You will fly into the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to participate in our medical volunteer opportunity in Nepal. Please arrive one day prior to your project’s start. Just give us your flight info ahead of time, and we’ll have someone waiting for you when you land to take you safely to your accommodations.

When it’s time to head back home, just hire a local taxi to take you back to the airport. This isn’t included in your volunteer fee, so be sure to budget accordingly.

Visa

You will need a tourist visa to participate in our Nepal medical volunteer program. Depending up on your nationality, you may be able to obtain a tourist visa upon your arrival at the airport in Nepal. The lines can be quite long during peak tourist season, so we recommend applying for your visa ahead of time through your home country’s consulate.   

You will get a 90-day tourist visa and you can extend it by visiting the immigration offices located in Kathmandu. We suggest you do your research ahead of time regarding what travelers need to do coming from your home country. Check out Nepal’s immigration website to learn more.

Vaccination

All international travelers should get vaccinated to protect themselves, but you’ll be working with low-income patients that often lack access to regular healthcare, so you’re going to need to take even more precautions.

The basic recommended vaccinations for visiting and volunteering in Nepal programs are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Meningitis. However, you may also need vaccinations against Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis and Rabies depending on your project placement.  

Please visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Health Canada or Travelers' Health United Kingdom for more information.  

For further readings:

Vaccination

Volunteer Health and Safety

Safety tips for your volunteer abroad trip

Arethe medical volunteersin Nepalplacedin clinics or hospital?

Located in Kathmandu and Chitwan, you will mainly work in the hospital. There are also local health posts (small community based clinics) in Chitwan. We allocate volunteers in both locations based on their interest and skills, and the current needs of the project.

Do we get hands on experience at this project?

The Nepal volunteer project solely supplies opportunity for shadowing and learning by observation, but this is a great chance to see real patients and gain insight into diagnosis and treatment.

What kind of support do we get during the medical volunteer project in Nepal?

You are provided with an orientation and will work closely with hospital administration learning the various departments and their methods of operation. Our in-country coordinator is there to help you with anything you need.

Any important information you want to share about this project?

Volunteers cannot serve as replacements for licensed doctors and nurses, and you should not expect to be providing direct healthcare to the patients you encounter. However, you will work closely alongside healthcare professionals in all departments of the hospital. As with many medical settings, schedules can often be hectic and busy. Volunteers are expected to be flexible and keen to learn about the healthcare system of Nepal.

Why join IFRE’s medical volunteer program in Nepal?

Advance your career:

Joining a medical project like this looks great on your resume and will help you when applying to medical schools and future jobs. You’ll also gain real-world knowledge and experience you can draw upon when you become a healthcare professional.

Make a difference:

IFRE’s programs help support low-income and struggling patients that are in desperate need of medical care. Volunteer abroad and help make sure these people get the help they need!

Make friends from around the world:

Volunteering in IFRE’s Nepal medical project will put you into contact with a variety of people from around the world. From the local doctors and nurses to your host family to your fellow volunteers, connect with amazing people from different places and cultures and expand your mind!

Immerse yourself in a new culture:

Broaden your horizons by immersing yourself in the fascinating Nepalese culture. Try new foods, learn a new language, meet interesting people and see what life in Nepal is all about.

Go on an adventure:

Nepal is an exciting destination and breaking out of your comfort zone and traveling to a foreign country is an experience you’ll never forget. Talk to IFRE about extending your trip and heading off on some adventure travel after you’re done volunteering!

Contact IFRE today to learn more about becoming a medical volunteer in Nepal!

Other volunteering opportunities in Nepal

If you want to volunteer in Nepal but don’t have the required medical experience for this project, don’t worry, as IFRE arranges many other projects you can take part in. You can

teach English to disadvantaged kids or Buddhist monks

help with nature conservation

work in an orphanage

learn photojournalism, and much more!

Contact IFRE today to learn more about these exciting programs.

Medical volunteer opportunities in other countries

There are sadly many countries in the world where significant numbers of people lack access to healthcare. To help alleviate this global problem, IFRE arranges medical volunteering projects all over the world in many different countries. See the list below for some of our most popular projects in the medical field:

Take a minute to complete the form and we will be in touch.

Top destinations