Griffith University 2025
Some of the key factors that motivated me to undertake an overseas medical elective placement included expanding my understanding of the global health landscape, deepening my appreciation of how different people and cultures engage with healthcare, and understanding the constraints of cost, resources, and geographical distance on healthcare.
3.png)
The Work the World programme in Kathmandu enabled me to achieve all this, while also offering the chance to undertake the trip of a lifetime (including reaching Everest Base Camp before beginning my placement), and to meet some incredible people, both locals and fellow travellers/students.
2.png)
Initially, I was placed in the emergency department, where I was immediately faced with the stark differences between Australian and Nepalese hospitals. The overcrowding (sometimes with three patients to a bed), patients having to pay upfront for medications, sterile equipment, and radiology, as well as limited resources (one ventilator for the entire emergency department), prompted me to reflect on the privileges we enjoy at home.
The operation of the emergency department was sometimes chaotic, but it still followed a method that meant patients needing care could receive it in a unique way that was suited to Nepal’s health landscape. The warmth of the supervising doctors, their eagerness to teach, the kindness and friendliness of the patients and families, and the opportunity to be involved and self-guided in learning made this an incredibly positive experience.
1.png)
This placement gave the opportunity for so much medical learning, both theoretical and practical. In the emergency department, there were countless opportunities to interpret CT and X-ray scans, ask doctors questions about patient management, perform ABGs, as well as observe other procedures like ascitic and pleural taps. In internal medicine, doctors took time and care to explain cases in English, which helped me consolidate my knowledge of infectious diseases, endocrine, and rheumatology presentations and management.
I have been involved in many memorable cases, including those with massive pleural effusions caused by infective exacerbation of COPD, large ascites requiring therapeutic or diagnostic taps, and numerous polytraumas often resulting from road traffic accidents common in Nepal.
While many aspects were similar, some major differences between the Australian and Nepalese healthcare systems included overcrowded beds in the emergency department, later presentations of illness resulting in more severe cases, the requirement for patients to pay in advance for medical equipment and medication, and delays in emergency presentations due to travel times and distances. In Nepal, the family plays a much more significant role in medical decision-making, and there is a noticeable emphasis on time-pressured patient interactions rather than on maintaining sterility, patient consent, counselling, and privacy.
Having like-minded students around in the Work the World house made it easy to make the most of Kathmandu and Nepal’s offerings. Evenings were spent chatting over MD’s delicious dinners, visiting nearby attractions such as Boudha Stupa or Bhaktapur Durbar Square, or occasionally experiencing Kathmandu’s impressive nightlife. Weekends provided wonderful opportunities for further adventures - including a trip to Pokhara for a lakeside escape (and some paragliding!) - or exploring the local farmers' market and coffee scene.
5.jpeg)
Through this overseas placement, I feel I have grown both personally and professionally. Witnessing healthcare from such a different perspective highlighted the cultural, family, and socioeconomic factors deeply intertwined with individuals’ ability and willingness to access healthcare. My future practice will undoubtedly be influenced by my weeks in Nepal and my expanded appreciation of cases seen in Australia, as well as by recognising common global issues. Furthermore, the friendships formed — with Nepalese students, doctors, placement peers, and future colleagues — were incredibly rewarding, and I hope these bonds will last a lifetime.
Advice I’d give others considering an overseas placement is to do it! I’m so glad I did. I genuinely believe that Work the World’s expertise, network, and experience enabled me to make the most of this placement and travel, just as I hoped.
