Who we are
An international, independent medical humanitarian organisation
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) translates to Doctors without Borders. We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff - bound together by our charter. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organisation.
The medical team inside the intensive care unit of the MSF medical train monitor and stabalise a seriously war-wounded patient during the journey from Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine to Lviv, in western Ukraine. The journey takes approximately 20 hours. Ukraine, May 2022.
© Andrii Ovod
video
Welcome to Grow Strong Foundation
Patients First
Our actions are guided by medical ethics
MSF’s actions are first and foremost medical. The notion of quality care for the individual patient is central to our humanitarian objective. We seek to provide high-quality care and to act always in the best interest of patients; to respect their confidentiality, their right to make their own decisions and above all, to do them no harm. When medical assistance alone is not enough, we may provide shelter, water and sanitation, food or other services.
working principles
Everywhere we work, the circumstances are unique. Nonetheless, our programmes generally follow a common set of practices designed to make sure our resources and expertise are used to maximum effect.
01Impartiality
02Independence
03Neutrality
04Transparency & Accountability
01Impartiality
Our decision to offer assistance is based on our evaluation of medical needs, independent of political, economic or religious interests. Our independence is rooted in our funding; 98 per cent comes from individual private donors giving small amounts and private institutions. We strive to freely evaluate needs, access populations without restriction, and to directly deliver the aid we provide.
02Independence
Our decision to offer assistance is based on our evaluation of medical needs, independent of political, economic or religious interests. Our independence is rooted in our funding; 98 per cent comes from individual private donors giving small amounts and private institutions. We strive to freely evaluate needs, access populations without restriction, and to directly deliver the aid we provide.
03Neutrality
Our decision to offer assistance is based on our evaluation of medical needs, independent of political, economic or religious interests. Our independence is rooted in our funding; 98 per cent comes from individual private donors giving small amounts and private institutions. We strive to freely evaluate needs, access populations without restriction, and to directly deliver the aid we provide.
04Transparency & Accountability
Our decision to offer assistance is based on our evaluation of medical needs, independent of political, economic or religious interests. Our independence is rooted in our funding; 98 per cent comes from individual private donors giving small amounts and private institutions. We strive to freely evaluate needs, access populations without restriction, and to directly deliver the aid we provide.
The MSF Charter
Médecins Sans Frontières is a private, international association. The association is made up mainly of doctors and health sector workers and is also open to all other professions which might help in achieving its aims.
All of its members agree to honour the following principles: Médecins Sans Frontières provides assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict.
They do so irrespective of race, religion, creed or political convictions. Médecins Sans Frontières observes neutrality and impartiality in the name of universal medical ethics and the right to humanitarian assistance and claims full and unhindered freedom in the exercise of its functions.
Members undertake to respect their professional code of ethics and maintain complete independence from all political, economic or religious powers.
As volunteers, members understand the risks and dangers of the missions they carry out and make no claim for themselves or their assigns for any form of compensation other than that which the association might be able to afford them.
our history
video
Welcome to Grow Strong Foundation
The founding of MSF
Why we started
From a group of doctors to an international movement: how has the MSF movement developed over the years? Learn about the creation of MSF and the major chapters of our history through the animated film, Once Upon a Time the MSF Movement.