Pharmacy Internship in Sri Lanka

Gain pharmacy work experience in Sri Lanka which will enhance your CV and teach you new skills

Destination

Sri Lanka

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

1 week

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

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.

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Starting at £1,295 for 1 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Assist local pharmacists

Shadow professionals, aid in medication packaging and dispensing, and engage in data capturing, gaining practical insights into pharmacy practices.

Participate in medical outreach

Conduct health checks, dispense medication, and raise awareness on health issues, providing essential care to rural communities.

Attend key educational workshops

Learn about local illnesses, diagnosis, and treatment, and practice medical skills, expanding your knowledge under a local doctor’s guidance.

Experience Sri Lankan healthcare

Gain insight into healthcare challenges, contribute to improving access to care, and support efforts to combat diseases like Dengue fever.

Immerse in Sri Lankan culture

Live with a caring host family, explore Colombo and the surrounding areas, visiting temples, beaches, and markets, and meeting amazing local people.

What you need to know

Overview

Are you a current or prospective pharmacy student? Or maybe a recent pharmacy graduate? If yes, then this internship is ideal for you. It’s an excellent way to gain practical experience in a different cultural setting and boost your CV.

This internship is available year-round, with flexible start and end dates, so you can select a time that best suits you. We encourage you to stay as long as you can in order to maximise your learning and experience.

You will be supervised by qualified pharmacists and medical staff during your internship. Upon arrival, you’ll receive a comprehensive induction which will run you through everything you need to know about your Pharmacy placement in Sri Lanka.

A Day in the Life

A typical day on this internship runs from 8.30 am – 12.30 pm, and then from 2 pm – 4 pm, Monday to Friday. You will work under the supervision of a qualified pharmacist.

Wake up in the home of your host family and enjoy a delicious breakfast. You’ll then travel to your placement via public transport – either bus or rickshaw. On your first day, our staff will accompany you to show you the way.

You will be placed in the pharmacy of a local hospital. You’ll spend your time observing the local staff at work dispensing medicine. Hands-on work is possible in the form of packaging medicine and data capturing.

On certain days, you’ll also take part in medical outreaches in a disadvantaged community. Here you’ll work under the supervision of a local doctor. You’ll help to conduct basic medical checks and dispense medication.

Once you’re done for the day, it’s time to discover the sights and sounds of your new surroundings. Join in on our regular socials, where you can get to know your fellow interns, or spend some time swapping stories with your host family. Don’t forget to visit the local monuments, markets and beaches.

Aims & Impact

The main aim of this project is to provide students and graduates with an educational, practical internship in an international environment.

Many of the people who join us on an internship are looking to gain work experience in a different cultural setting. We organise projects where you can work alongside skilled local staff, gaining insight into their profession. It’s an opportunity to learn from others and share knowledge and ideas as part of an important cross-cultural exchange.

There is also an altruistic dimension to this internship. While Sri Lanka has free healthcare for its citizens, it is sometimes limited or inconsistent, especially in disadvantaged areas. You will take part in regular medical outreaches, which provide local communities with basic healthcare checks, treatment, and medication. If it weren’t for these outreaches, many of these people would otherwise not receive medical care.

We have identified the following four goals as the focal points for our work in Sri Lanka:

Improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups
Improve standards of hygiene
Promote awareness of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure
Help to reduce the number of cases of Dengue fever

Join us on a Pharmacy internship in Sri Lanka and gain work experience while learning about pharmacy practice in a different country.

Activities

During this internship, you’ll take part in a range of observation-based and practical activities in a hospital pharmacy. Duties at your pharmacy placement in Sri Lanka include:

Observe local pharmacists as they go about their day-to-day work
Assist with a variety of tasks around the pharmacy
Take part in medical outreaches which benefit disadvantaged communities
Improve your own skills at educational monthly workshops

Your work will be divided into four main categories:

Observe local pharmacists as they go about their day-to-day work

An important part of this internship is learning from skilled professionals. You’ll observe local pharmacists as they go about their day, preparing and dispensing medication to patients. Ask questions, take notes, and make the most of this educational opportunity.

Assist with a variety of tasks around the pharmacy

You will also have the chance to help with the packaging of medication, as well as the dispensing, under supervision. If you are confident, there may also be an opportunity to do data capturing alongside the local pharmacist.

Take part in medical outreaches which benefit disadvantaged communities

We run regular medical outreaches in disadvantaged communities, which are open to all our Medicine & Healthcare interns. Here you will conduct basic health checks, such as blood pressure and sugar levels. You will also dispense medication where needed, under the supervision of a local doctor.

As part of our outreach work, you might also have the chance to help raise awareness about specific issues relevant to the local community. Topics could include Dengue Fever symptoms and treatment, or the importance of hygiene for reducing infections. These presentations take place at local schools and community centres.

Improve your own skills at educational monthly workshops

There is an opportunity to improve your skills and expand your knowledge at our regular monthly workshops. These are also open to all our Medicine & Healthcare interns, and are led by a local doctor.

You will learn about illnesses that are specific to the area, for instance, and how to diagnose and treat them. You may also learn basic medical skills, which you will then put into practice at our outreaches.

Map & Location

Ayubowan! That’s “may you live long” in Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka, a beautiful island nation in the Indian Ocean. Experience a culture and tradition dating back thousands of years and try the exotic flavours of Sri Lankan cuisine.

Did you know Sri Lanka is thought to have world’s oldest wildlife sanctuary? While exploring, you’ll find ancient cities with distinct architectural styles, vast tea plantations in mist-covered hills, and the warm hospitality of its people.

Galle

Coastal, historic, and well-connected, Galle is an idyllic city in the south of Sri Lanka. Most famous for the incredibly well preserved 17th-century fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city is home to 100,000 people and has a warm, tropical climate.

Within fort walls, you’ll find narrow streets with colonial-era buildings, cosy cafes, shops, restaurants, and stunning views of the Indian Ocean. You may even see signs of the strong global trade Galle has conducted through history.

Food & Accommodation

Experience the warmth of Sri Lankan hospitality and settle into your home away from home. We provide everything you need for a comfortable and enriching stay, including a cosy bed, three delicious meals a day filled with local flavors, and access to clean drinking water.

You’ll be welcomed into the home of a carefully vetted Sri Lankan family, offering a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture. We’ll take care of your daily transport to and from your placement, making your experience even smoother.

Your host family home will be a safe and comfortable space, and if you share a room, it will be with someone of the same gender and similar age. This allows you to connect with fellow travellers, share your experiences, and create lasting memories.

Free Time and Leisure

Sri Lanka is well-known for its diverse landscapes. From beaches to tropical jungles, there’s something for everyone in this fascinating country.

The buzzing Pettah Market is a must-see. You can chat to friendly vendors, buy handmade products, and enjoy the electric atmosphere around you. For cultural enrichment, you can spend an afternoon in the National Museum of Colombo. The Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple is also a highlight, with its vast collection of artefacts.

The town of Galle is a sea port with a strong Dutch heritage and plenty of old colonial buildings to explore. You can also venture inland to hike in the hills, swim in the cool waterfalls, and visit traditional hill towns.

Sri Lanka’s national parks include safari parks where you can spot wildlife like leopards and elephants, or spend an early morning bird-watching in one of the wetland sanctuaries. There are also rainforest reserves crammed full of tropical biodiversity.

You’ll be sharing this unique experience with many other volunteers. This means you can travel solo or spend your free time with the friends you make during your trip.

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 Sri Lanka Arrival Procedures page.