Hi

I'm from Singapore and would like to ask about medical-related volunteer opportunities in Thailand, or any related humanitarian missions which require medical support.

I would be applying for medical school in singapore next year in July, and it is required for us to have a good portfolio to enter. I intend to put this into my portfolio. Academically, I qualify, but I need some help with my portfolio.

I am trained in the medical field as I was a medic during my compulsory national service which is ending in 4 months time. I am posted to the Treatment and Resuscitation Room of a Medical Center in Singapore.

Regularly, we have to treat wounds, assess, monitor and resuscitate patients who suffer from a wide variety of acute medical conditions, some of which are emergencies. This involves the intravenous infusion of medication and saline, monitoring of vital signs and ECG, IM injection of medicine, oxygen or ventolin therapy, etc.

I also have some volunteering experience with social work agencies which are non-medical related.

If anyone can point me to any resources, would be very much appreciated.

Edited August 21, 200916 yr by SurgeryAddict

Volunteer work would require a work permit, for which you must be connected to a registerd charity.

There are numerous NGO's active in Thailand, working in the refugee camps. I would try them, directly by email in Thailand and see if they can use you. It would depend greatly on your medical skills and time you are availeble if they can use you.

NGO's you can try are ARC, AMI and MSF.

You could also work as a volunteer medic with one of the 'body snatcher' emergency first response volunteer groups. For example in Phuket there is a Swedish man called Lars who has worked as a volunteer with the local EFR group for many years. These types of groups typically deal with car accidents, suicides etc, especially where the victims are local Thais, (ie not wealthy tourists!).

Again, you need a work permit to do this type of work, but it will not be forthcoming... However, it is certain that the authorities turn a blind eye to foreign volunteers who help for these good causes.

There is a very small risk that you could be arrested, imprisoned and deported for doing this volunteer work without a work permit. The choice is up to you. If your portfolio reads 'worked for 6 months as a volunteer EFR medic in Phuket, subsequently arrested, jailed for 3 days and then deported back to Singapore' - and your medical school considers that to be a good portfolio - then go for it!

Simon

Why do you think Thailand needs Your help so much? If you want a holiday just turn up at the airport and get 30days visa on arrival.

If you need to help someone in need try Burma/Myanmar or one of the millions in India or Africa, i just can't help thinking that the only person you have on your mind of helping is.... yourself?

http://www.volunteerafrica.org/

Hey i've done some googling for ya, mind you there won't be any Thai green curry or noodle soup. What there will be is flies, disease, a challenge and death ( Hopefully not yours).

I'm sure everybody will be interested to here how things go for you. I will be happy to hear that you have changed your mind about volunteering in Thailand a country where i personally have never seen so many new cars driving about in my whole life. When do you leave for Africa?

Edited September 28, 200916 yr by loser1

Why do you think Thailand needs Your help so much? If you want a holiday just turn up at the airport and get 30days visa on arrival.

If you need to help someone in need try Burma/Myanmar or one of the millions in India or Africa, i just can't help thinking that the only person you have on your mind of helping is.... yourself?

http://www.volunteerafrica.org/

Hey i've done some googling for ya, mind you there won't be any Thai green curry or noodle soup. What there will be is flies, disease, a challenge and death ( Hopefully not yours).

I'm sure everybody will be interested to here how things go for you. I will be happy to hear that you have changed your mind about volunteering in Thailand a country where i personally have never seen so many new cars driving about in my whole life. When do you leave for Africa?

Loser1 (rather fitting handle)

Do you really think the OP needs to be baraged with your banter? Maybe the OP wants to work in Thailand due to the fact Thailand has "awesome" medical facilities. (relative to the countries you mentioned) Maybe the OP wants to work in an area of the world were the exposure to patients with active TB would be less than areas such as Africa. Maybe the OP is a quarter Thai and wants to learn more about his or her roots.

Maybe it is the OPs decission and none of your business.

Why do you think Thailand needs Your help so much? If you want a holiday just turn up at the airport and get 30days visa on arrival.

If you need to help someone in need try Burma/Myanmar or one of the millions in India or Africa, i just can't help thinking that the only person you have on your mind of helping is.... yourself?

http://www.volunteerafrica.org/

Hey i've done some googling for ya, mind you there won't be any Thai green curry or noodle soup. What there will be is flies, disease, a challenge and death ( Hopefully not yours).

I'm sure everybody will be interested to here how things go for you. I will be happy to hear that you have changed your mind about volunteering in Thailand a country where i personally have never seen so many new cars driving about in my whole life. When do you leave for Africa?

Loser1 (rather fitting handle)

Do you really think the OP needs to be baraged with your banter? Maybe the OP wants to work in Thailand due to the fact Thailand has "awesome" medical facilities. (relative to the countries you mentioned) Maybe the OP wants to work in an area of the world were the exposure to patients with active TB would be less than areas such as Africa. Maybe the OP is a quarter Thai and wants to learn more about his or her roots.

Maybe it is the OPs decission and none of your business.

Dakhar (rather fitting handle)

Yeah your probably right why would a medic want to volunteer outside of the impoverished Thailand?

On reflection i can now see you are correct, only an idiotic medic would volunteer to Africa, like you say the medical facilities are less than awesome and as you state everyones got TB (don't forget it's active) and the OP hasn't got the sudanese roots to learn about!! Silly me of course sorry , yeah that'll be a 1hr flight to phuket then and don't forget the snorkelling gear it's not all volunteering, smiles and noodle soup.

Your right just let the Africans die lets face it they haven't got the medical facilities or a less active stain of TB and no roots.

Right where's the patong medical centre?

If anyone can point me to any resources, would be very much appreciated.

Charity, as they say, begins at home. How about trying these people:

http://singapore.angloinfo.com/afdetail.asp?Rec=4190

The Spastic Children's Association of Singapore

Sure they would love to have your help for a few months. Or maybe try the local Red Cross?

Why do you think Thailand needs Your help so much? If you want a holiday just turn up at the airport and get 30days visa on arrival.

If you need to help someone in need try Burma/Myanmar or one of the millions in India or Africa, i just can't help thinking that the only person you have on your mind of helping is.... yourself?

http://www.volunteerafrica.org/

Hey i've done some googling for ya, mind you there won't be any Thai green curry or noodle soup. What there will be is flies, disease, a challenge and death ( Hopefully not yours).

I'm sure everybody will be interested to here how things go for you. I will be happy to hear that you have changed your mind about volunteering in Thailand a country where i personally have never seen so many new cars driving about in my whole life. When do you leave for Africa?

Loser1 (rather fitting handle)

Do you really think the OP needs to be baraged with your banter? Maybe the OP wants to work in Thailand due to the fact Thailand has "awesome" medical facilities. (relative to the countries you mentioned) Maybe the OP wants to work in an area of the world were the exposure to patients with active TB would be less than areas such as Africa. Maybe the OP is a quarter Thai and wants to learn more about his or her roots.

Maybe it is the OPs decission and none of your business.

+

Wow.... more of the same.

If anyone can point me to any resources, would be very much appreciated.

Charity, as they say, begins at home. How about trying these people:

http://singapore.angloinfo.com/afdetail.asp?Rec=4190

The Spastic Children's Association of Singapore

Sure they would love to have your help for a few months. Or maybe try the local Red Cross?

Well said.

I can't believe that there are people here bashing the OP for suggesting he would like to do some volunteer work. One of the reasons that people often undertake volunteer work outside of thier own country is to gain different experiences. I really can't see what the problem is, and it really is up to the OP as to where he chooses to undertake it, bt like the fact that people choose to live here.

I can't believe that there are people here bashing the OP for suggesting he would like to do some volunteer work. One of the reasons that people often undertake volunteer work outside of thier own country is to gain different experiences. I really can't see what the problem is, and it really is up to the OP as to where he chooses to undertake it, bt like the fact that people choose to live here.

You know... you are so right just leave him alone he's got a holiday oops no, a volunteering trip to sort out

Edited September 28, 200916 yr by loser1

You know... you are so right

I know, thanks.

I can't believe that there are people here bashing the OP for suggesting he would like to do some volunteer work. One of the reasons that people often undertake volunteer work outside of thier own country is to gain different experiences. I really can't see what the problem is, and it really is up to the OP as to where he chooses to undertake it, bt like the fact that people choose to live here.

You know... you are so right just leave him alone he's got a holiday oops no, a volunteering trip to sort out

Dude what gives?

I can't believe that there are people here bashing the OP for suggesting he would like to do some volunteer work. One of the reasons that people often undertake volunteer work outside of thier own country is to gain different experiences. I really can't see what the problem is, and it really is up to the OP as to where he chooses to undertake it, bt like the fact that people choose to live here.

You know... you are so right just leave him alone he's got a holiday oops no, a volunteering trip to sort out

Dude what gives?

What does ' dude what gives' mean sorry i'm English... maaaaannnn!!

Leave me alone and leave the OP alone. It is his life, his carreer, he can do as he pleases.

Where is the report button?

However, it is certain that the authorities turn a blind eye to foreign volunteers who help for these good causes.

There is a very small risk that you could be arrested, imprisoned and deported for doing this volunteer work without a work permit.

Not worth the risk.

Check out the major charities/relief agencies.

I work here in the medical field, but I the work permits etc etc

But I must be honest, I do not do much hands on work, mostly administrative.