In 1971 a group of French doctors and journalists created an international organization that would provide emergency medical care to victims of war, natural disasters, or disease regardless of their race, religion, or political beliefs. They named the organization Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders, as it has become known in the United States.

Made up of all kinds of specialists from every aspect of the health industry, the organization provides vital medical support in some of the world’s most deprived and war-torn countries.

These doctors, nurses, administrators, and planning experts are active in over 60 countries and operate under a firm code of ethics, which requires them to treat everyone equally without showing discrimination. The organization also remains strictly politically and religiously neutral and does not take sides in war. It does this so that it can remain free of any constraints that could affect its ability to give aid where it’s most needed.

It also maintains its independence by making private donations its main source of income. There are over 3.7 million private donors that come from countries all around the world. Only 10 percent of its funds come from governments.

Often first on the scene in any crisis, Doctors Without Borders is constantly in the thick of disasters, be they man-made or natural, sometimes witnessing scenes of real brutality and violence. In order to provide the best medical care, they are continually in touch with local people on the ground. As such, they have a unique and thorough perspective on the world’s most desperate situations.

Using this firsthand knowledge, the organization frequently speaks out against human rights abuses, medical neglect, and instances of violence that do not get sufficient attention from the media.

A peaceful organization, they have only ever called for military intervention once, during the 1994 massacres in Rwanda. However, they have also strongly condemned the actions of the governments of several African and Asian countries, often working directly with the United Nations.

In 1999, the organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its exceptional humanitarian work around the world. And, true to form, it used the money to fund the fight against neglected diseases.

1971年，一群法國醫師和記者創建了一個國際組織，其宗旨是不分種族、宗教或政治信仰，為戰爭、天災、疾病的受難者提供緊急醫療救援。他們稱該組織為Médecins Sans Frontières，或者是Doctors Without Borders「無國界醫生」，因為該組織在美國的知名度更高。

「無國界醫生」組織是由健康產業各層面中的各類專家所組成，該組織在世界一些最貧困與飽受戰爭蹂躪的國家，提供重要的醫療援助。

這些醫師、護士、行政人員與規劃專家活躍於六十多國，並且在堅定的道德規範下運作，也就是要他們不歧視、平等對待所有的人。該組織也嚴格維持政治與宗教上的中立，不偏向戰爭中的任何一方。如此一來，該組織便可以不受任何限制，能夠援助最需要救助的人。

「無國界醫生」的主要的收入來源是私人捐款，組織也因此而得以保持獨立。來自世界各國的個人捐款者超過370萬人，只有10%的資金是來自政府的捐贈。

通常「無國界醫生」通常都是第一個抵達危機現場的組織，他們經常置身於災難重重的地方，無論是人為或自然災難，他們有時甚至會目睹十分殘酷、暴力的場面。為了要提供最好的醫療照護，該組織會隨時與當地民眾保持聯繫。正因如此，他們對世界上非常危急的形勢，有其獨特與透徹的觀點。

該組織以此為第一手知識，經常大聲疾呼反對人權侵犯、醫療疏忽與暴力，這些都是未獲得媒體足夠關注的議題。

這個和平的組織只有一次呼籲採取軍事干預的手段，也就是在1994年的盧安達屠殺。然而，他們也強力譴責一些非洲與亞洲國家的行動，經常直接與聯合國共事。

由於該組織在世界各地人道主義行動上的優異表現，而於1999年獲頒諾貝爾和平獎。而一如往常，獲得的獎金也作為資金，對抗被忽視的疾病。