Medical Mission Trip 2026
Embark on a life-changing journey with our medical mission trips to the Philippines, where volunteers from diverse backgrounds and ages come together to uplift resilient, disadvantaged communities in the island province of Bohol. Through our close collaboration with Rural Health Units and district hospitals in underserved municipalities, your efforts will create a lasting impact on those who need it most. By getting immersed in the communities we serve, you will cultivate deep bonds and lasting friendships, united by a shared commitment to service, not only with fellow volunteers from across the United States but also with our local partners, who are among the most skilled, compassionate, and dedicated healthcare professionals you will ever meet. By participating in our pre-mission online peer-to-peer fundraiser, you will make a significant contribution to providing free care for our indigent patients, fostering a sense of pride and purpose as a HAND-Philippines medical mission volunteer.
Since 2014, we have successfully conducted medical missions, continually expanding our reach and services each year, increasing the need for volunteers. For 2026, we invite individuals from all 50 states and the District of Columbia to join our dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. To accommodate those already on our waitlist, we have implemented a reservation system based on volunteer categories with the following participant caps:
Providers (doctors, APPs, dentists, residents, and fellows in training) = 12
Nurses (ER/ICU, MedSurge, PACU, OR) = 22
Pharmacists = 2
Other medical and non-medical professionals (NUAs, EMTs, and non-medical, yet trainable professionals) = 14
Youth (accompanied by a parent) = TBD
Consider The Why
Our medical missions aim to bridge the significant healthcare affordability gap in rural areas of the Philippines, where many patients lack access to essential, life-saving procedures. In Bohol Province, where we focus much of our efforts, the average annual family income stands at just $1,770. This modest amount barely covers the fundamental needs, such as food and shelter, for a family of six. Despite the presence of nationalized healthcare, coverage is limited, leaving patients to shoulder exorbitant out-of-pocket costs for necessary surgical interventions. For instance, the copay for cataract surgery at a subsidized government hospital can amount to approximately $1,000, while major elective surgeries, such as cholecystectomies and hernia repairs, can range from $1,500 to $2,000.
As a result, many low-income individuals forgo timely surgical treatment, which often leads to irreversible health consequences or even death. It is tragically common to find farmers and fishermen losing their sight in their fifties due to cataracts caused by prolonged sun exposure, or for working-age adults to tragically succumb from untreated gallstone cholecystitis or intestinal gangrene from an incarcerated hernia. These heart-wrenching incidents occur far too frequently, creating a cycle of economic hardship and grief, leaving children orphaned at a young age.
By delivering free, high-impact surgical procedures that address chronic conditions before they escalate into life-threatening complications, we aim to prevent disabilities and fatalities among working-age Filipinos. This proactive and compassionate approach not only meets urgent healthcare needs but also empowers communities to build long-term resilience and achieve economic stability.
Medical Mission 2026 Schedule
Arrival Day - April 7 (Tuesday)
Team Building + Orientation - April 8 to 10 (Wednesday to Friday)
Work Days - April 11 to 15 (Saturday to Wednesday)
Departure Day - April 16 (Thursday)
In 2026, we require all volunteers to arrive at our Home Base in Bohol by or before Tuesday, April 7, to comply with our tight schedule. Team Building and orientation will be integrated and conducted on and around the island of Bohol. The five workdays will commence on Saturday and conclude on Wednesday, with departure scheduled for Thursday, April 16.
Medical Mission 2026 Services
We are expanding again in 2026.
Mobile Clinics - In contrast to previous years, when we operated only one team, in 2026, we will have two teams, each serving five Rural Health Units. This expansion aims to reach at least 3,000 patients. The mobile clinics will continue to provide essential free services, including health screenings, routine laboratory tests, minor surgeries, dental extractions, consultations, and medications.
Rural Health Surgery Service - Continuing from 2025, we will perform life-changing major surgeries for charity cases. A significant addition this year will be major gynecologic operations. Our goal is to increase the number of procedures from 21 in 2025 to 50, with the potential for more if additional funding is secured.
Cataract Surgery Service - We will continue to provide cataract operations aimed at restoring vision for farmers and fisherfolk, thereby enabling them to sustain their livelihoods. We aim to expand the number of surgeries from 75 in 2025 to 150.
Acute Care Service - New for 2026, we will be partnering with a small yet busy, dilapidated community hospital that requires immediate assistance. Our team will staff the emergency room and wards, while also serving as a referral service for acutely ill patients needing hospitalization from our mobile clinics. Our goal is to serve at least 300 emergency room patients and 50 inpatients.
Community Health Education - Also new for 2026, a team consisting of nurses, doctors, and health educators will conduct seminars and training sessions for community members and local healthcare workers. Key topics will include violence against women, community-level management of common psychiatric cases, HIV prevention, and basic life support/bystander CPR training.
What to Expect Beyond Work Assignment
Our mission trips are designed so that we take care of your needs and safety, allowing you to focus on serving the sick. Uplifting lives halfway around the world, volunteers will come out of our mission trips with a sense of fulfillment. We hope to inspire our volunteers to champion our cause beyond the medical mission to help us continue working to realize our goal of sustainable healthcare for the underserved.
Flights & Daily Transporation:
The primary airport for arrivals and departures is Cebu Mactan International Airport (CEB). Our ground crew will assist you in transferring to the island of Bohol by ferry. If you choose to enter the Philippines via Ninoy Aquino Manila International Airport (MNL), please ensure that you book a connecting flight to Bohol-Panglao International Airport (TAG), where additional ground staff will be available to assist you. Please note that we do not have staff available to assist with transfers in Manila.
In 2026, there will be an increase in international flights to Bohol-Panglao International Airport (TAG) with connections from Incheon and Taipei, providing direct access to Tagbilaran City in Bohol, thereby eliminating the need to transit through Cebu or Manila.
You are responsible for booking and covering the costs of your flight to and from the Philippines. Our team can guide you on the best flight routes and prices.
We handle all airport pick-ups, drop-offs, and daily transportation needs.
Room & Board
Our Home Base is currently expanding to accommodate all U.S. volunteers within a single compound. Rooms are shared; however, we will ensure that groups of friends and families are housed together. If you prefer off-site accommodations, various hotels are available in the area. We can assist with bookings, but any associated costs will be your responsibility.
Meals
Meals at the Home Base consist of a mix of Filipino and American dishes. We can accommodate various dietary needs, including allergies, intolerances, and medical or religious restrictions. Volunteers staying off-site are expected to dine with the group at the Home Base.
Services
Wi-Fi, laundry, room cleaning, linen, and towel services are standard with your stay at the Home Base. Again, laundry is available, so please pack lightly.
Team Building + Orientation
During the initial three days following your arrival, you will participate in a series of Team Building activities designed to enhance cohesion, collaboration, and communication among all participants, including our local volunteers and partners. The activities will take place in settings that showcase the rich cultural and ecological highlights of Bohol. Additionally, these Team Building days will incorporate a comprehensive orientation for your volunteer roles, preparation for the mobile pharmacy, and screening for surgical patients.
Fees & Fundrasing
The mission trip involves two separate fees: the Medical Mission Fee and the Volunteer Support Fee.
Medical Mission Fee = USD 1,390
This is your contribution to the organization’s Medical Mission Fund (MMF), which supports free care services to our indigent patients. Specifically, the MMF covers major elective surgeries, cataract operations, medications, supplies, equipment, and the logistics of running these services, including shared room and board for all volunteers, daily transportation, and licensing. We strongly recommend fundraising this amount through our online peer-to-peer (P2P) platform (details below). Alternatively, you may pay this amount directly in full or through monthly installments if fundraising is not feasible.
Volunteer Support Fee = USD 180
This fee covers non-patient care-related expenses, such as airport and ferry transfers, personal laundry, and a volunteer kit, which includes Philippine Peso cash of Php 1,600 for incidental expenses. This payment is due upon confirmation of your registration and cannot be funded through fundraising efforts.
Refund Policy
Payments made directly are fully refundable if your travel plans change on or before January 7, 2026. After this date, refunds will only be granted with valid proof of a significant life event. Please note that donations are non-refundable. Any unrefunded amounts, including donations, will be credited towards your next trip.
P2P Fundraising
Peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising is a popular method for raising money for a cause. You often see this on social media.
One of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering with us is the tangible impact you have on individuals' health and lives. For example, a young mother suffering from uterine bleeding may receive a hysterectomy, eliminating the cause of her anemia. A fisherman with cataracts will regain his vision, allowing him to continue supporting his family. Or a young man who survived a bout of gallstone cholecystitis will undergo a cholecystectomy, preventing life-threatening complications from untreated gallstones. Hundreds of patients will also benefit from free medications, minor surgeries, and dental care services they could not afford without your philanthropic efforts.
We streamline our P2P fundraising process to make it easy for you. Once your registration is confirmed, you will collaborate with our Volunteer Coordinator to create a fundraising webpage. This page will include photos, a donation appeal, an online donation form, and a progress thermometer. We provide ready-made templates for you to customize and personalize. Once your page is set up, our Volunteer Coordinator will assist you in promoting it via social media, direct messages, text messages, or email.
Here are ways of making your P2P fundraising a success:
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Center your P2P fundraiser around personal events - Link your fundraiser to personal milestones such as your birthday or graduation, or to nationally recognized days that resonate with your personal or professional connections. For instance, you can dovetail your P2P fundraiser during Nurses’ Week. Or Doctor’s Day. These are commonly recognized days for medical professionals. However, there are also obscure national days that make one stop and take notice. As a rule of thumb, the more specific or “niche” the day of celebration, the better your chances of being noticed on social media. You can Google the dates for a national day of whatever it is. For example, the national day for blondes is May 31st. For bald men, October 14. For short men, December 22. This is not to say that fundraising around Giving Tuesday or even the Holidays won’t be effective. We have done that route over the past few years with good effect. Just be creative on how you connect the national day, which is about you, with the cause, which is the medical mission.
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Increase outreach - The more people you direct to your P2P page, the greater your chances of reaching your fundraising goal. P2P fundraising is a numbers game, not a popularity contest. If you do not have a social media account, consider sending Ask Emails, Ask Texts, and Ask DMs. And yes, we have templates for this, as well. Successful fundraisers typically use multiple channels to broaden their reach.
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Personalize your appeal - While we offer templates, a personalized and heartfelt appeal for donations is most effective. Authenticity resonates with potential donors, so take the time to craft a message that reflects your passion for the mission.
Next Steps
1. Determine your availability - First, confirm your availability to take time off for the medical mission trip. Given the distance, consider coupling your trip with a vacation. The mission is scheduled from April 7 to 16, 2026, with these dates chosen to avoid conflicts with spring breaks in Maine and California. We recommend setting aside at least two weeks for any additional travel. Popular side trips include destinations within the Philippines, such as Boracay, El Nido, Coron, and Siargao, as well as nearby Southeast Asian spots like Thailand, Bali, and Vietnam. These excursions can be planned either before or after the mission.
2. Complete the Reservation Form below - If taking time off is feasible, please complete the Reservation Form below as soon as possible so our reservation system can add you to the queue for your specific volunteer category. Please be aware that we will be prioritizing those already on our waitlist from last year. Therefore, the sooner you reserve, the higher your priority on the list. If you are traveling with a group or family, we recommend submitting separate reservations for each member. If there are no available spots in your queue at the time of your reservation, our Volunteer Coordinator will inform you of your status on the waitlist.
3. Answer the confirmation phone call - Applications will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. Within 24 hours of submitting your reservation, our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you via email and text message to arrange a brief phone appointment. This is a critical step: You must answer our Volunteer Coordinator’s phone call to complete the confirmation process.
4. Complete the Registration Form - After confirmation, our Volunteer Coordinator will provide you with a link to our online registration system. You must complete your registration within two weeks of receiving the link; failure to do so will result in automatic removal from the reservation system, opening your spot for another volunteer. During registration, you will need to pay the Volunteer Support Fee of USD 180.
5. Work on flights, fundraising & payments - Once you are registered, our Volunteer Coordinator will assist you in setting up your flight planning, P2P fundraiser page, and payment scheme.
Meet us on Zoom!
Our team meets every Sunday from 7:30 to 8 PM Eastern Time via Zoom, and you are invited to drop in and ask questions. Click here to join!
Join our team today!
Start your journey of making a real difference in the lives of Filipinos. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to serve, learn, and grow. Spots are limited on this trip, so sign up now
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Reservation Form For Mission Trip 2026
07 to 16 April
Please complete this form for yourself, and if you are coming as a group, complete a separate form for each individual member.
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
Medical positions
General or gynecologic surgery providers
Job Description:
- Provide major elective surgical care to adult and pediatric patients
- Provide written referral and follow-up documentation to local health providers for post-op care if necessary.
Qualifications: MD, DO
Anesthesiologists
Job Description:
- Provide general anesthesia for major elective surgeries for adult and pediatric patients
- Provide written referral and follow-up documentation to local health providers for post-op care if necessary.
Qualifications: MD, DO
Adult medicine providers
Job Description:
- Provide medical consultation and treatment to patients 18 and older with more than straightforward complaints and medical issues that may necessitate written referral and follow-up with local doctors and specialists for diagnostic plans and management.
- Provide a written referral to an appropriate emergency facility or hospital for patients with urgent/emergent conditions.
Qualifications: MD, DO, NP, PA, PGY 1 & up, MS 3 & 4 (supervised)
Pediatric medicine providers
Job Description:
- Provide medical consultation and treatment to patients younger than 18 with more than straightforward complaints and medical issues that may necessitate written referral and follow-up with local doctors and specialists.
- Provide a written referral to an appropriate emergency facility or hospital for patients with urgent/emergent conditions.
Qualifications: MD, DO, NP, PA, PGY 1 & up, MS 3 & 4 (supervised)
Urgent Care/Family medicine providers
Job Description:
- Provide medical consultation and treatment to patients of all ages with straightforward complaints and medical issues.
- Provide backup for Adult and Pediatric Medicine Providers if needed.
Qualifications: MD, DO, NP, PA, PGY 1 & up, MS 3 & 4 (supervised)
Minor surgery providers
Job Description:
- Provide minor surgical care to adult and pediatric patients, meeting Mission 2018 guidelines.
- Provide written referral and follow-up documentation to local health providers for post-op care if necessary.
Qualifications: MD, DO, NP, PA, PGY 1 & up, MS 3 & 4 (supervised)
Dental providers
Job Description:
- Provide routine dental care and tooth extraction to patients of all ages.
Qualifications: DMD, DDS.
Triage & Urgent care nurses
Job Description:
- Document clinical information of patients referred to the Consultation Area in the Patient Encounter Form.
- Use clinical judgment to determine the complexity of a patient's clinical condition and initiate the indicated treatment protocol.
- Pre-order routine and available lab and diagnostic tests.
- Provide routine, urgent care treatments.
- Facilitate transfer of patients deemed to have urgent/emergent conditions.
Qualifications: RN, LPN
Surgical nurses
Job Description:
- Assist surgical providers.
- Usher patients to the next level of care if needed.
- Circulation of clean/sterilized equipment and supplies.
Qualifications: RN, LPN
Surgery Techs/Assistants
Job Description:
- Assist surgeons in performing minor surgery.
- Usher patients to the next level of care if needed.
- Circulation of clean/sterilized equipment and supplies.
Qualifications: Any allied medical professional with relevant background/experience.
Dental Techs
Job Description:
- Assist dental providers in performing tooth extractions and routine dental care.
- Direct patients to the next point of care.
Qualifications: Any allied medical professional with relevant background/experience.
Pharmacist - Pharmacy Supervisor
Job Description:
- Supervise the physical set-up of the Pharmacy at the start of each clinic day.
- Dispense of prescriptions written by clinic providers.
- Supervise pharmacy staff.
- Advise providers of potential drug interactions.
- Advise providers on alternative drugs available in the formulary.
- Perform end-of-day accounting of all drugs dispensed.
- Provide recommendations to the Project Coordinator for procuring additional drugs if needed.
Qualifications: Registered Pharmacist
Pharmacy Techs/Assistants
Job Description:
- Assist pharmacists in dispensing and labeling prescriptions.
- Assist Pharmacy Supervisor with end-of-day accounting of dispensed drugs.
- Assist the Pharmacy Supervisor with the physical set-up of the Pharmacy.
Qualifications: Any allied medical professional with relevant background/experience.
Laboratory Technologist - Lab Supervisor
Job Description:
- Supervise the physical set-up of the Laboratory and Diagnostics area.
- Provide routine/available laboratory/diagnostic procedures ordered by clinical staff.
- Document and communicate results to ordering providers.
- Supervise procedures performed by lab staff.
- Perform end-of-day accounting of laboratory supplies.
Qualifications: Licensed Laboratory Technologist.
Laboratory Techs/Assistants
Job Description:
- Assist laboratory technologists in performing laboratory and diagnostic procedures.
- Document and communicate results to ordering providers.
- Assisting the Laboratory Supervisor in the physical set-up of the Lab and Diagnostic Area.
Qualifications: Any allied medical professional with relevant background/experience.
Non-Medical positions
Community Health Educators
Job Description:
- Provide lectures and other educational activities to a general or specific audience based on subject matter.
Qualifications: Any education/medical professional with relevant background/experience and a specific topic.
Documentation Supervisor
Job Description:
- Document the activities of the Mission Trip with photographs, videos, and write-ups.
- Supervise encoding of patient clinical data onto the database.
- Enforce patient confidentiality regulations per Organization
- Coordinate release of materials to media/social media and official website.
- Submit summary statistics to Project Coordinators.
- Prepare Certificates of Participation and Appreciation.
Qualifications: Any professional with relevant background/experience.
Documentation Assistants
Job Description:
- Encode data from Patient Encounter Forms into the database.
- Assist the Documentation Supervisor with Certificates of Participation and Appreciation.
- Assist the Documentation Supervisor with photography, videos, and write-ups.
Qualifications: Anyone with relevant background/experience knows how to use spreadsheets.
Patient Flow Assistants
Job Description:
- Direct patients from the waiting areas to service areas and back.
- Assist the Patient Flow Supervisor in crowd/noise control and maintenance of patient privacy.
- Manage patients with pending laboratory and consultation reports, making sure patients are directed to the next point of care without delay.
Qualifications: Anyone with relevant experience/background. Pre-mission training by the Patient Flow Supervisor is necessary. The ability to speak Tagalog and Cebuano is a plus but optional.
Mission Support Assistants
Job Description:
- Assist the Mission Support Supervisor and Project Coordinator in physically setting up all patient care and volunteer support areas.
- Transport personnel, drugs, and equipment.
- Provide backup to Patient Flow Assistants if needed.
Qualifications: Anyone with a relevant background. Pre-mission training by the Mission Support Supervisor is necessary.
Consultation Controls
Job Description:
- Manage post-triaged patients by directing them to specific medical providers
- Coordinate patients who need laboratory/diagnostic workups.
- Direct post-consultation patients to the next service area.