Médecins du Monde
Member profile
Médecins du Monde (MDM) is an international humanitarian association that for 25 years has relied on the commitment of its members (healthcare professionals) to bring relief to the most vulnerable populations. Since December 1996, the network of MDM has been recognized as a non-governmental organisation with general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. MDM's organization is based on board members with experience overseas, volunteers in France, voluntary workers for international operations, and a permanent paid staff. The support of hundreds of thousands of donors ensures MDM's financial independence. Thanks to this diversity, MDM operates permanently on the basis of debate, the views of civil society and the operational efficiency of its programmes for beneficiaries. As a result there is a strong and original organizational structure which is distinctive amongst large NGOs.
Main activities
MDM’s primary mission is to provide medical care. Volunteers are committed to helping all vulnerable populations: victims of natural disasters, famines, diseases (epidemic or endemic, especially Aids), victims of armed conflict, political violence, refugees, displaced persons, minorities, street children, drug users, and all people with no access to healthcare. Some projects of MDM are:
- treat lead poisoning in children;
- provide a buddying program to support children hospitalized without family support;
- help the homeless;
- reconstructive surgery to those maimed in war;
- aid Zimbabwe in treatment of the HIV-infected population.
- numerous emergency missions.
MDM ensures a genuine presence at the local level and emphasizes field work and collaborate with country health representatives.
Links to the health workforce crisis
MDM works in 60 countries, providing health care to most deprived people. MDM programs are directly impacted in field activities by the health workers shortage. Its objective is to contribute to the advocacy work to obtain some real change in HRH national and international policies. The focus is on matters such as salary increases, budget support and better aid, wage bill ceilings and their impact on fiscal space for HRH investments. MDM is also planning to carry out case studies in several countries where we have programs. Angola, Ethiopia and DRC would be among these countries.
Call for knowledge information:
Alliance Members are invited to submit any relevant knowledge products such as documents, reports, tools, multimedia, links to specific project web sites by sending an email to ghwa@who.int. The Alliance Secretariat will publish relevant products on the Member's page.
Visit our Knowledge centre.
