We are Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent medical humanitarian organisation. We deliver life-saving emergency medical humanitarian aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters and healthcare exclusion.
We work in over 70 countries worldwide, from North Africa to South America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, in villages not found on any map, in refugee camps, in hospitals and clinics, in projects, serving the health needs of the vulnerable.
- We are independent, impartial and neutral
Doctors Without Borders offers medical humanitarian assistance to people based solely on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender, or political affiliation. Our teams of doctors, nurses, logisticians, and other frontline workers are often among the first on the scene when peoples’ lives are upended by conflict, disease outbreaks, or natural or human-made disasters.
The decision to respond is based solely on our independent assessment of medical needs. We work to ensure that our teams can reach people in need without restriction and provide aid directly.
- We are guided by medical ethics
Doctors Without Borders' goal is to do no harm. We are committed to providing the highest quality medical care possible—no matter where we’re working—and to acting in our patients’ best interests, respecting their rights to dignity, confidentiality, informed consent, and to make their own decisions.
- We are committed to bearing witness
We believe that the principles of impartiality and neutrality are not synonymous with silence. When the world turns its back on crises, we are duty-bound to raise our voices and speak out on behalf of our patients. Our decision to do so is always guided by our mission to do no harm, preserve respect and dignity, and protect life and health.
- We are transparent and accountable
Accountability is at the core of our identity. We strive to be as open and transparent as possible when it comes to the work we do and the money we spend. We continually reflect on both our successes and failures to ensure that the efficacy, quality, and efficiency of the care we provide is always improving.
Our financial independence ensures that the aid we provide is not used to further any government’s political or military goals. Most of our funding comes from small donations, and 98 percent of the money we raised globally in 2023 came from individual donors and private institutions. We do not accept government funding.
- We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion
With over 69,000 staff members of 169 nationalities working in more than 70 countries around the world, we recognize that diversity, equity, and inclusion are inextricably linked to the success of our medical humanitarian mission. We are making changes across our organization to better reflect this incredible diversity and build one global workforce. These efforts include challenging operational structures, creating more opportunities for locally hired staff, and reevaluating compensation and benefits policies.
Click here to learn more about our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
What guides us
Our principles drive our work and ensure that we can provide medical care to the people who need it most.