St Francis' Hospital

St Francis' Hospital is a 490-bed mission hospital in Katete District, Eastern Province, Zambia. Jointly run by the Anglican and Catholic Churches, it provides essential district and referral services for a population of over 200,000 and receives patients from across the wider province. The hospital offers broad clinical exposure across Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Maternity, Anaesthetics and neonatal care, and plays a key role in training Zambian doctors, nurses and midwives.

Students are warmly welcomed into a busy clinical environment where learning is grounded in real practice. St Francis has a long history of hosting international electives and encourages students to spend at least four weeks with one team to build relationships and better understand local healthcare systems before considering a rotation.

Located just outside Katete town and about 500 km from Lusaka, the hospital campus is a friendly and active community with access to small shops, markets and local transport. Students often explore nearby areas on weekends, including Katete town, Chipata and the South Luangwa National Park.

Electives at St Francis' Hospital begin with a four-week attachment to one clinical team, allowing students to settle in, understand local systems and build strong relationships with staff. After this initial period, students may rotate to other departments depending on supervision and availability.

Days typically start with morning ward rounds at 07:30 or 08:00, followed by ward work, clinics and departmental activities. Students may also join evening or weekend rounds, and can attend regular Clinical and Mortality meetings held twice weekly. Theatre sessions in Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynaecology run several times a week, with opportunities to observe or assist depending on your level of training.

Clinical teaching is largely informal and embedded in daily practice, with many opportunities to learn alongside medical officers, consultants and local trainees.

Students at St Francis' Hospital can join clinical teams across Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Anaesthetics.

Electives begin with a four-week attachment to one department, with the option to rotate depending on supervision and availability. This structure helps students settle in, build confidence and gain meaningful experience within a busy rural hospital.

Students stay in rooms and shared houses located on the St Francis' Hospital campus. You may have your own room or share with one other student, and each house has a toilet, basin and shower attached. Rooms are simple but comfortable, and bedding and laundry are taken care of by the campus staff.

All students eat in the Staff Mess, where three meals per day are provided as part of the elective package. Vegetarian diets can be catered for, although the menu may be repetitive. Self-catering facilities are also being added and may be available from 2026.

The campus has a warm, community atmosphere, with Mess staff on hand to help with practical issues. WiFi is available in the hospital but not in most accommodation areas, so students often purchase a local Airtel SIM for data. Power is generally reliable, though occasional outages can occur, and students are advised to bring a torch.

St Francis' Hospital is located in Katete, a friendly town in Zambia's Eastern Province with a mix of small shops, markets and local services. Within easy reach of the hospital are supermarkets, cafés, a local market and community facilities. The hospital campus is lively and welcoming, with regular football matches and student activities.

Students often explore the wider region during weekends. South Luangwa National Park, one of Zambia's most popular wildlife reserves, is a major attraction and can be visited on short trips. The town of Chipata is 90 km away and offers larger supermarkets, banks and transport links for wider travel, including onward routes to Malawi.

The climate varies through the year, with hot months in October–November and rains from November to January. Evenings can feel cool during the dry season, and warm layers are recommended.

Most students travel via Lusaka (5–7 hours by road to Katete) or via Lilongwe in neighbouring Malawi, which offers a shorter but more multi-step route through Mchinji and Chipata.