Siirry sisältöön
About us

Médecins Sans Frontières

What is Médecins Sans Frontières?

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) is an international emergency medical humanitarian organization founded by doctors and journalists in 1971. Our teams go where people’s needs are greatest to provide neutral, impartial, and independent emergency healthcare to people affected by disaster, disease, conflict and exclusion. MSF also bears witness, amplifying patient and staff experiences and speaking out to bring abuses and intolerable situations to the public eye. Today, 69,000 people work for MSF in over 77 countries.   

2023 Activity highlights

74

COUNTRIES

We worked in over 70 countries around the world.

16M

OUTPATIENT CONSULTATIONS

We made more than 16 million outpatient consultations.

69000

EMPLOYEES

We employed more than 69 000 people, over 80% of whom are locally hired.

7M

INDIVIDUAL DONORS

7,3 million private donors supported our work.

Our guiding principles

MSF is impartial, neutral, and independent. We provide care to the people who need it most independent of their ethnicity, religion, gender, or political affiliation. 

Patient first

We are committed to providing the best possible care for all our patients. In accordance with medical ethics, we believe that patients have the right to confidentiality and to make autonomous decisions based on all the necessary information. 

We are impartial

We provide free medical care based on need. We treat people irrespective of their political affiliation, origin, ethnicity or gender. Those in most serious or immediate danger are prioritized. 

We are independent

98% of our finances come from individual donors and private institutions. This financial independence enables us to make fast decisions free of any outside restrictions or influence. 

We are neutral

We never take sides in a conflict nor allow the demands of governments or warring parties to dictate our actions. Our commitment to neutrality enables us to be where we are needed most. 

We speak out

According to the principle of bearing witness, or témoignage, we act as witnesses to the suffering we see and speak out about it. It is part of our mission to advocate for basic human rights, life and health all around the world. 

Our history

MSF was founded by thirteen doctors and journalists in Paris in 1971. We provide medical care in the midst of crisis and speak out about the suffering we witness to improve the patients’ situation. Today, we deliver aid around the world with the help of 69,000 professionals. In 1999 MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for our humanitarian work and speaking out. 

We are not sure that words can always save lives, but we know that silence can certainly kill.

Dr James Orbinski President of the MSF International Council in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in 1999

Finance and administration

98 % of our funds come from private donors.

Most of our funds come from private donors – private individuals or companies. This guarantees the independence and impartiality of our work. We are transparent about how the donations are spent and we only raise as much money as is necessary for our operations.

80% of our financial resources are allocated to fulfilling our social mission: saving lives.

Our work in Finland

Our office in Finland supports our international humanitarian work. We want to speak out to people in Finland about the humanitarian crises in the world. The donations from Finland are crucial to our work. We also search for new professionals for our projects around the world because Finland has world class specialised medical care. The Helsinki office opened in 2018.

Do you want to know more?

Learn about our mission, our charter and principles on the Médecins Sans Frontières international website.

Find out more about us (msf.org)