The EdEx Programme is a partnership between Mildmay Mission Hospital and Kumi Hospital in Uganda that gives trainee GPs the opportunity to gain experience in providing healthcare in a very different setting. Trainee GPs can greatly benefit from the opportunities provided by working in low and middle-income countries, and Mildmay intends to provide this opportunity to all our trainee GPs.
Recognising an opportunity to supplement the training of General Practitioners (GPs) during their clinical placements at Mildmay, Chief Executive Geoff Coleman and Medical Director, Dr Simon Rackstraw FRCP, developed the concept for the Education Exchange Programme (EdEx) to facilitate short-term electives for trainee GPs at Kumi Hospital in rural eastern Uganda.
The UK takes pride in the high standards of its medical professionals, and we firmly believe that a crucial addition to their training is the experience of delivering healthcare first-hand in a developing world context, where the abundance of facilities, resources, networks and safety nets that our highly trained clinicians are accustomed to are not readily available.
During their EdEx placement, our doctors gain direct experience in developing the skills and knowledge to enhance their GP practice. In return, they help to improve the quality of care in Uganda by transferring skills and knowledge to aid capacity building and strengthening of health systems. Ultimately, this improves clinical outcomes in both countries.
To demonstrate the feasibility of the programme, two doctors completed a successful pilot placement at Kumi Hospital in Uganda in March 2023.
You can read their report here.
We hope to secure sufficient charitable funding to send six trainee GPs on placements annually. Each placement costs a little under £3,000, including all clinical expenses, travel and accommodation.
The EdEx Programme is a life-changing experience for both the doctors and the patients they treat. These placements will enrich the training of UK General Practitioners who learn to be more resourceful and adaptable, and they develop a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities of healthcare in low- and middle-income countries. In return, they help to improve access to high-quality, up-to-date knowledge and care for patients who might not otherwise be able to afford it.
We believe that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of where they live, and the EdEx (Educational Exchange) Programme is a unique opportunity for trainee GPs to gain valuable experience and make a real difference in the world.