Meera Patel is a surgical trainee specialising in bowel surgery and bowel cancer research. She spent 3 weeks at 2 hospitals in Sri Lanka as part of a fellowship. Here, she shares what she learnt.
I was delighted to be the first person to undertake this fellowship and to gain experience of working in a different healthcare system. I spent time at 2 hospitals – both near the capital, Colombo: the first, Colombo South Teaching Hospital, and the second, the National Cancer Institute.
I gained a great deal of hands-on experience during my time there – more than I would have received in the same time frame at home. I performed 9 major bowel resections (operations to remove the part of the bowel where the cancer is), as well as ten colonoscopies. This has really stood me in good stead as I continue my training back home.
Sustainable surgery in Sri Lanka
Although the NHS is working towards making healthcare as sustainable as possible, I believe there is much we can learn from my colleagues in Sri Lanka. I was particularly impressed by the environmental stewardship in their operating theatres. Limited access to resources naturally encourages sustainable practices, demonstrated by reduced dependence on single-use plastic items and a culture of resourcefulness – all while maintaining high standards of care.
Fostering connections to move research forward
During my visit, I was able to explore potential research collaborations, and we have now established a translational research project aimed at characterising the genetic changes in bowel cancer samples from the Sri Lankan population.
While bowel cancer genomic testing is available in Sri Lanka, its routine use is limited by financial and infrastructural constraints. This project seeks to address these challenges and advance the field, along with the potential treatment options available to Sri Lankan patients.
