A Global Perspective: A Look into Sri Lankan Healthcare

In the spring of 2016 I was chosen as a Klemm Fellow to visit Sri Lanka and participate in a healthcare internship. Sri Lanka is a superbly beautiful, lush country that fosters a diverse population of people. With it’s sandy beaches, and historical landmarks, it’s an extremely sought out tourist destination. I had the pleasure of interning in this breath-taking county and examine free nation-wide healthcare personally. During my three weeks in Karapitiya Teaching Hospital I interned at 3 wards: Pediatrics, General Surgery, and the Emergency Unit. The following presentation will discuss my first-hand observations of Sri Lankan healthcare/medical education and a brief comparison to our health care system and education. A pro’s and con’s list will be provided in addition to my observational notes taken in each ward. I will further examine how specific Sri Lankan rituals and beliefs influence the country’s modern day medicine and medical approaches. The medical hierarchy that governs the hospitals of Sri Lanka will be fleshed out and detail the affects it plays on healthcare management. Furthermore, I will touch upon my homestay experience and the immersion of culture that went hand in hand with it. Drawing upon my experiences abroad, I will be discussing specifics of the culture, and the influence it has on the mentality of the native people I had the pleasure of meeting. Through the personal anecdotes I share, I hope to create a snapshot of the irreplaceable experience I had abroad and share the observational knowledge I learned through my internship in Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.