Medical Internship in Peru

Observe and learn from local doctors at healthcare facilities in Peru and get international work experience

Destination

Peru

Age

18+ y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

Requirements

You need to speak intermediate Spanish.

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

Request Info

Starting at £1,775 for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Become a global healthcare hero

Explore a new health system and increase access to care in underserved communities. Develop an international perspective on health challenges.

Step into the shoes of medical professionals

Experience the realities of healthcare firsthand. Shadow professionals across departments, gaining insights into patient care and community outreach.

Participate in interactive medical workshops

Broaden your knowledge and learn new skills at medical workshops run by our medical coordinator. Ask questions and share your experience.

Connect with people and place

Live with locals and other interns. Connect directly to the culture of Peru while working and socialising with other aspiring medical professionals.

Cruise out of your comfort zone

Embark on a life-changing adventure that will broaden your horizons and enrich your personal and professional growth.

What you need to know

Overview

Considering a career in medicine? Interested in gaining clinical experience before or during your medical studies? This international medical internship in Peru is the right move for you.

Overseas medical experience will set your CV apart for all your future applications. Whether you’re a high school student preparing for university, or planning ahead for job applications, this internship will give your CV that extra edge.

Please note that you must speak an intermediate level of Spanish to join this internship, as not all doctors and supervisors are fluent in English.

A Day in the Life

A typical day in Peru will start with you travelling to work bright and early. Once there, your role will be mainly observational, so you will spend the majority of your time watching skilled doctors and medical staff at work.

See how staff clean wounds, put in stitches, give injections, treat children at the rehabilitation centre, and many other practical tasks. Doctors will happily share their knowledge and advice, and welcome any questions you might have.

Work hours vary depending on where you are placed. At the hospital and healthcare centre, mornings are generally busier than afternoons. Your afternoons are therefore likely to be spent doing more administrative tasks and helping with bedside care.

At the private clinic, you will arrive at 8am, accompany doctors while they visit patients from 8:30am-11:00am, and then help doctors and nurses with patient care from 11:00am-1:00pm.

You will have less contact with doctors if you work at the children’s rehabilitation centre. If you choose this medical internship placement, you will spend afternoons at various child care facilities around the city to assist with educational and developmental work.

During your weekends you can explore the amazing city of Cusco, or venture out into the surrounding landscapes to marvel at the natural beauty, observing llamas in their natural habitat.

Aims & Impact

Peru currently suffers from a double burden of disease: infectious disease remains rife in poorer communities, with respiratory diseases still being one of the leading causes of death in Peru. That being said, non-communicable diseases are also on the rise and malnutrition amongst babies and children remains a serious issue.

Through our outreach programme, we aim to provide basic healthcare to some of these vulnerable groups as well as raise awareness about some of the more pressing health issues facing the country.

We have committed to four goals, as outlined in our Medical Management Plan:

Encourage an understanding of medical practices and promote an exchange of medical knowledge
Improve the quality of healthcare provided to patients
Improve access to basic healthcare to disadvantaged groups
Improve hygiene standards

Gain medical work experience in Peru while helping us achieve these long-term goals.

Activities

We have a number of medical placements in Peru for you to intern at. You can work in hospitals, healthcare centres, children’s rehabilitation centres, or private health clinics.

We can arrange extra work for university medical and healthcare elective students to meet all of your university’s requirements. This includes meeting a set amount of clinical hours or working in a specific department.

The exact work you do will depend on where you’re placed, but here are the kind of things you could get up to:

Observe doctors during their work in hospital, consulting, treating, and more
Rotate between departments like general medicine, gynecology & pharmacy
Provide basic healthcare and info to underprivileged communities on outreaches
Treat children with special needs under the guidance of professionals

Your work will be split in three main areas:

Observation

Shadow doctors, nurses, and other medical staff during their day-to-day activities. Listen and learn as doctors diagnose patients and observe the way they treat them. You’ll also see nurses cleaning wounds, doing stitching, and giving injections.

Rotating between hospital departments

We give you the opportunity to watch procedures within a number of departments. Broaden your knowledge by spending time in departments like general medicine, gynaecology, obstetrics, and pharmacy. If you work at the children’s rehabilitation centre, you will gain experience in paediatric treatment as well.

Outreach work

Outreach work takes place separately from your normal hospital work. You’ll visit underprivileged communities with a supervisor, to provide basic healthcare and educational information to those who cannot access these services otherwise. You’ll raise awareness of disease and preventative measures, so the communities you visit can lead healthier lives.

Medical Departments

During your medical internship in Peru, you can get experience in various hospital departments. The longer you stay, the more departments you see. This is a great way to explore specialisations and decide which one you want to pursue in your medical career.

You can choose to spend time in these departments:

Nursing
General Medicine
Midwifery
Pharmacy
Gynaecology
Obstetrics
Laboratory
Dentistry

If you’re interested in a specific department, please feel free to contact us and we can help advise you.

Map & Location

Step into the home of the Inca Empire, where the Andes Mountains meet the Amazon Rainforest. Peru is the third-largest South American nation and about 60% of it is covered by rainforest. It’s also the origin of the mighty Amazon River.

Peru is a popular tourist destination for its rich history and culture, incredible biodiversity, and, of course, Machu Picchu. If you aren’t persuaded yet, this ought to do the trick: it’s home to about three-quarters of the global alpaca population!

Cusco

Cusco, nestled in the Andes in southeast Peru, was the capital of the mighty Inca Empire. Now home to half a million people, the stunning city welcomes over two million tourists a year, many of which hike the nearby Inca Trail to find the famous Machu Picchu.

Thanks to a high elevation and subtropical climate, Cusco benefits from comfortable temperatures year round. You’ll also find a lively city centre with busy social spots, a fascinating mix of architecture, and easy transport access.

Food & Accommodation

We’ll take care of all the essentials during your time in Peru. You’ll have a comfortable living space with a carefully selected host family, three nutritious meals a day, and access to safe drinking water. We’ll also organise all your travel to and from your placement.

Your host family’s home will be clean, safe, and secure, and you’ll be welcomed as a local from the moment you arrive. Share your stories and culture with your host family and other Projects Abroad participants over incredible home-cooked meals and experience Peruvian culture and hospitality every day.

We will try to match you with another person of the same gender and similar age so you can share your experience with a like-minded traveller. Who knows, you might just make a new friend (or a few) on your travels!

Meet your team

Free Time and Leisure

Peru is a vibrant country with a mix of activities for every kind of volunteer. Whether you’re into arts, culture, history, or nature, there’s sure to be something for you!

One of the biggest attractions of Peru is the Inca history. There are awe-inspiring archaeological sites like Coricancha, Tambomachay, and of course, Machu Picchu (which is easy to get to from Cusco).

Over a weekend, you can take a trip to the village of Pisac, where you can browse bright, eye-catching textile markets. Don’t miss out on seeing the llamas and alpacas too!

There are also lively restaurants everywhere you look, the perfect place to spend an evening chatting to the locals, relaxing, and enjoying local cuisine, like ceviche.

We run a variety of projects in Peru so you’ll likely meet many other volunteers on your trip. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect and travel as a group. However, you’re welcome to travel independently if you prefer.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Peru Arrival Procedures page.