The majority of doctors in the community are newly qualified doctors, called ‘interns’. I soon realised that they were expected to take on a huge responsibility – from running antenatal and paediatric clinics to delivering babies, performing episiotomies if needed, and manning the emergency department in 24-hour shifts.

Although the interns were not very experienced, they had support from a senior resident. Unfortunately, this is not always the case in other parts of India.

Presentation at the primary healthcare centre included basic medicine, immunisation, antenatal, perinatal and postnatal care, and common childhood diseases such as URTI, gastroenteritis and malnutrition.

The emergencies ranged from minor trauma, severe dehydration, myocardial infarctions and, surprisingly, dog bites. During my community antenatal clinic visit, I observed a high prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia, which had been associated with increased maternal morbidity, mortality, and impaired foetal mental development.

The good

I would highly recommend this medical elective. The hospital is nationally and internationally known, and offers a rich clinical, teaching and academic experience. Delhi as a city also has a lot to offer.

The general paediatric clinic was perhaps where I received some of my best clinical experience. I was allowed to take histories from patients, perform a clinical examination and present to the senior resident. This really helped me acknowledge my strengths and weaknesses, which I will take into consideration for my future professional practice.

My elective: Delhi

Dev Priya Singhvi

My elective: Delhi