Medical Volunteer Program in India - Delhi
Inspired to be a Medical volunteer in India - Delhi? International Volunteer HQ’s Medical project enables volunteers to assist in under-resourced hospitals or slum clinics in Faridabad. Volunteers will gain medical experience and learn about the Indian healthcare system by shadowing qualified professionals and helping them when appropriate. This improves access to healthcare for the local community and facilitates a cross-cultural exchange of ideas and learnings that benefits both volunteers and local staff.
Highlights:
- Programs start every first and third Monday of the month
- Affordable fees from £236 for 1 week
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
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Treat injuries and bandage wounds in busy slum clinics
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Immerse yourself in the lively chaos of Delhi
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Stay in a safe apartment with other volunteers
Key information
This program is ideal for:
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Healthcare in Delhi is free, but public hospitals tend to be underfunded, understaffed and overcrowded. They are also not easily accessible for the millions of people who live outside of the main city centres. Clinics in India’s slums help to address this issue by bringing medical care to people where they need it the most.
Volunteers can help at both hospitals and slum clinics, but local regulations generally prevent international volunteers from treating patients independently.
Volunteers who are still in training will have the opportunity to observe local professionals and learn about the treatment of prevalent diseases in India. Duties may include:
- Assisting with routine medical tasks
- Measuring and weighing patients
- Taking blood pressure
- Routine check-ups
- Provide advice about nutrition, general health and sanitation
Qualified and experienced professionals will be able to provide more hands-on care at slum clinics or can request to volunteer in their area of expertise (although this cannot be guaranteed). Duties may include:
- Treating minor injuries
- Cleaning and bandaging wounds
- Blood sugar tests
- Taking patients’ blood pressure and temperature
- Completing paperwork
- Dispensing medicine
Long-term volunteers (three months or longer) will have more scope to assist with hands-on tasks and fully qualified doctors can occasionally assist with surgical procedures, subject to their qualifications and experience.
Qualified dentists and dental students are also eligible to join the Health project in Delhi; however, it is worth noting that the number of patients requiring dental work does vary each day and there may be no patients requiring dental work. Although that is the case, all patients coming into the slum clinics and hospitals can be guided on how to clean their teeth and volunteers can provide suggestions on other treatments that may be required.
Why do Healthcare volunteering in Delhi with IVHQ?
When you volunteer in healthcare in Delhi you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Supporting local medical staff
- Improving access to care for the local community
- Observing clinical practice in a new setting
- Learning Hindi
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining medical experience
- Immersing yourself in Indian culture
- Discovering the diverse nature of Delhi
Volunteer requirements
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To join the Medical project in Delhi you need to be a pre-medical or pre-nursing student, nursing or medical student; or a qualified medical professional. Paramedics, EMTs, CNAs, lab techs, pharmacists and dentists (including dental students) may be eligible to take part, although volunteer work in these fields cannot be guaranteed and is likely to be more general.
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Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate in this program. If you are under the age of 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad page to learn more.
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All volunteers are required to speak fluent English, have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
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Medical specialties
Suitably qualified professionals may be able to volunteer in the following areas:
- Dentistry
- Dietetics/nutrition
- Pediatrics
- Physiotherapy
- Radiology/x-ray
- Ultrasound
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course credit”My favorite moment from the volunteer experience was to approach to new communities and get to feel part of them.”
Maria Paz, Colombian, 20
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Location
Delhi is home to India’s capital city, New Delhi. The city and surrounding National Capital Region are home to 46 million people in a number of cities and towns. One of these is Faridabad, where many of IVHQ’s India - Delhi projects are based. With more than 1.4 million people, Faridabad is the biggest city in the state of Haryana and part of one of the fastest growing places in the world. This means lower-income communities and slums are becoming more overcrowded and resources more stretched. Volunteers can help local initiatives that aim to address some of these issues, making life better for the people who live there.
If you’re planning to volunteer in India over the summer between April and July, it is important to consider the climate in Delhi. You’ll be in your element if you like it hot, but some past volunteers have found the heat and humidity were more extreme than they were expecting and often there is no air conditioning at placements. If you are looking for a more temperate destination, the IVHQ India - Kerala volunteer program is a great option. Located in southern India, volunteers can expect a more tropical climate throughout the year.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of each month, and volunteers need to arrive in Delhi on the Sunday before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the New Delhi International Airport (DEL). Your airport pick-up is included in your program fee.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Faridabad, on the southern outskirts of Delhi. Your accommodation is covered by your program fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are travelling in India prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Delhi on the day before your program orientation.
There are two options for orientation in India:
Half-day Orientation:
This covers everything you need to know for your volunteer project and stay in India. You will have an introduction to the IVHQ India - Delhi program, your project and the local staff, Indian customs, rules, expectations, and safety.
1-week Language and Introduction Week:
A week-long orientation which not only teaches you everything you need to know for your volunteer project, but also gives you detailed information about life in India, basic Hindi language lessons, tours, entertainment and sightseeing including the chance to visit the Taj Mahal. This week is popular with volunteers and is a great way to settle the culture shock you can face when arriving in India.
The fee for this longer orientation is £189 and takes place in the first week of your program. Accommodation and three meals per day are covered during this time. The Taj Mahal Tour costs an extra £86. If you want to join the 1-week Language and Introduction Week, please indicate this on your application form.
Volunteer schedule example
First day
On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.
Weekdays
Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that the volunteer is working at, but a typical volunteer day would be:
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation |
| 8:00 AM | Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements. |
| 12:00 - 2:00 PM | Lunch break either at the placement or the volunteer accommodation. |
| 2:00 - 4:00 PM | Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to the volunteer accommodation, go sightseeing, or do some shopping. |
| 7:00 - 9:00 PM | Dinner at the volunteer accommodation. |
Weekends
During the weekends, volunteers have spare time to relax or take the opportunity to explore Delhi’s numerous street markets, malls and museums, or discover ancient temples, important religious sites and beautifully curated gardens. You can also travel further afield to destinations such as Agra, where you can see the Taj Mahal; or admire the rose-hued buildings in the Pink City of Jaipur. Volunteers can make travel arrangements after arriving in Delhi, however if you are planning a long weekend trip during your time in India, it is a good idea to look into train tickets in advance and visit a travel agent to discuss travel options.
Accommodation and WiFi
You’ll stay in a volunteer house outside of central Delhi, in Faridabad, where you can expect to share a room with one to three other volunteers of the same gender. While bedding is provided, it is recommended that volunteers bring their own sleeping bag for the winter months of November through February.
Living is comfortable and all accommodation has electricity, WiFi, fans, shared western toilets and running water. The volunteer house has heated water for showers, a dining area and kitchen facilities. It is located in a gated apartment block within Faridabad and volunteers are provided with transport to and from their placement and accommodation each day.
Volunteers may request homestay accommodation or a private room within the volunteer house and both options are dependent on availability at the time. There is an additional fee of US$91 (approximately £78) per week for a private room which can be booked and paid for via your Pre-departure Checklist once you have registered. Families will typically be accommodated in homestays, and on some placements on the Medical project volunteers may also be in a homestay.
Meals
Volunteers on the India - Delhi program are provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner, which are all served at the volunteer accommodation.
Toast, eggs, spreads, fruit and tea are served for breakfast. Typical Indian food served for lunch and dinner include chapati, a flat wheat bread; dahl, a lentil soup; curry; paneer; vegetables and salads. Meat is rarely eaten in India, except on festive occasions so you can expect all meals to be vegetarian.
India is home to a great variety of teas and you are sure to be served an authentic home brew of chai tea during your stay. Bottled water is readily available in India and volunteers should budget approximately £4 per week for 2 litres per day.
If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply so as we can discuss this with you further. As you will be living and volunteering abroad, you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home; however, the local team will do their best to ensure you are well taken care of. It’s important that you come to India with an open mind and understand that there is a need to be flexible when it comes to meals. If you wish to supplement some of your meals with home comforts, there are basic kitchen facilities available to use.
Pricing
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
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|---|---|
| 1 week | £236 Equivalent to £34/day |
| 2 weeks | £296 Equivalent to £21/day |
| 3 weeks | £400 Equivalent to £19/day |
| 4 weeks | £503 Equivalent to £18/day |
| 5 weeks | £606 Equivalent to £17/day |
| 6 weeks | £710 Equivalent to £17/day |
| 8 weeks | £916 Equivalent to £16/day |
| 10 weeks | £1123 Equivalent to £16/day |
| 12 weeks | £1329 Equivalent to £16/day |
| 16 weeks | £1743 Equivalent to £16/day |
| 20 weeks | £2156 Equivalent to £15/day |
| 24 weeks | £2569 Equivalent to £15/day |
- Accommodation
- Meals
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Airport pick-up
- Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of £283 in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in GBP.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, return transport to the airport when your program finishes.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Delhi generally find US$50 - US$100 to be sufficient for basic weekly expenses.
Recommended activity & tour add-ons
Here are just a few of the India add-ons we offer:
Is visiting India’s capital and seeing the iconic Taj Mahal on your bucket list? You can arrange this epic day tour directly with your IVHQ Program Manager before you depart. This is a perfect way to spend your free time while volunteering on the IVHQ India - Delhi program.
Delhi is a must-visit destination if you are in India and during the tour you will get to experience both the ancient feel of old Delhi and modern marvels of New Delhi.
You will be responsible for:
- Entrance fees to Taj Mahal
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
Your itinerary:
You will leave the volunteer program and will be transported to the city Agra, which tips the scales with 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and was the capital of the Mughal Emperors from 1526 to 1628. Breakfast is on the way.
Once arrived, your visit to the Taj Mahal begins and you will learn the rich history from an English-speaking guide.
After your visit has ended, you will then have lunch in a nice restaurant in Agra before having some free-time to see the markets in Agra and will then return to the volunteer program by 7pm.
Is visiting India’s capital and seeing the iconic Taj Mahal + Jaipur on your bucket list? You can arrange this epic tour directly with your IVHQ Program Manager before you depart. This is a perfect way to spend a long weekend while volunteering on the IVHQ India - Delhi program or after your program has finished.
Delhi is a must-visit destination if you are in India and during the tour you will get to experience both the ancient feel of old Delhi and modern marvels of New Delhi.
The trip includes a detailed tour of the city where you will visit some of the oldest markets, mosques and the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. In addition, you will get to walk along the white marble floors of the 7th wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal, and experience the mystical allure of the Agra Fort.
You will be responsible for:
- Entrance fees to monuments/sightseeing places
- Airfare
- Personal expenses
- Drinks
- A private room can be arranged for an additional cost, please contact your IVHQ Program Manager to book this.
Your itinerary:
Day 1: In the morning you will be picked up and will be transported to Jaipur - breakfast will be provided on the way.
Upon arrival to Jaipur, you will meet your tour guide who will take you to see the City Palace, Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal, Observatory and Amber Fort.
You can spend the remainder of the day relaxing or exploring nearby.
Day 2: After breakfast, you will be transported to the city Agra, which tips the scales with 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and was the capital of the Mughal Emperors from 1526 to 1628. First up is the Agra Fort in which its attractions include the Palace of Mirrors (Sheesh Mahal), Hall of Public Audience (Diwan-i-Aam), Nagina Mosque (Gem Mosque), Mina Masjid (Heavenly Mosque) and the 16th Century Jahangir Palace built by Emperor Akbar.
After, enjoy a Rickshaw ride to the impressive red sandstone monument of Red Fort. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its 18m high walls which took almost 10 years to construct.
In the afternoon you will be transported to the Taj Mahal, no words needed………enjoy!
Transport back to the hotel will be provided at the end of the day.
Day 3: Breakfast at the hotel, followed by sightseeing in Old Delhi starting with Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque.
Next on the itinerary is Chandni Chowk - Delhi’s oldest and biggest market.
In the afternoon, you will be transported to New Delhi and visit Humayun’s Tomb, rumoured to be the inspiration behind the Taj Mahal and was the first garden-styled tomb on the Indian subcontinent. Then make your way to the ‘Soaring Tower of Victory’ - Qutub Minar, a marble and red-sandstone structure which is nearly 73 meters tall and contains a spiral staircase of 379 steps. Built in the 11th Century, the design of the monument is inspired by the Minaret of Jam, in Western Afghanistan.
Your magical tour comes to an end and you will be provided a transfer back to the program or to the airport to board your flight if your volunteer duration has ended - lunch will be provided on the way.
How to book IVHQ’s recommended add-ons:
When you apply for an IVHQ volunteer program, make a note of which tours and add-ons you’re interested in on your application form so we can check availability and prices for you.
Once you’ve paid your registration fee, your Program Manager will be able to book your place on the tour(s) you have chosen and help you organize your trip.
Check what's required to visit India
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Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Protecting against COVID-19:
Volunteers tested for COVID-19 upon arrival
Health & safety information provided during orientation
Strict disinfecting standards for programs & accomodation
Greater physical distance between volunteers
Essential country information
| Capital | New Delhi |
| Population | 1.366 billion |
| Languages | Hindi, English |
| Currency | Indian Rupee (INR) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 |
Weather and climate
India is subject to six different climates and can be loosely characterized by four seasons; winter, summer, monsoon, and a post-monsoon period. Delhi experiences intense heat during the summer months (April to June) and temperatures can reach 45°C (114°F) during heat waves from the south. Dust storms are common during summer months. Following the dry summer, there is a period of monsoon weather from late June until September bringing heavy rain and average temperatures of 29°C (85°F). As winds from the Himalayas descend from November, winter in Delhi begins and average temperatures will sit around 12°C to 13°C (54°F to 55°F) until February. Heavy fog is typical during the winter.
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