Doctors Without Borders (also known as Médecins Sans Frontières) is a humanitarian organisation that provides medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, and disasters. Founded in 1971, the organisation has since grown to become one of the most recognized and respected medical organisations in the world, as the medical professionals involved in this organisation go the extra mile in their noble cause, taking to the front lines voluntarily. It is currently located in around 70 countries such as Libya, Syria, Congo, Bangladesh, Iraq, and more. Doctors Without Borders performed impressively well with having provided 21 million consultations and admitting more than 1 million patients in their clinics in 2021 alone. It is a global movement of around 65,000 medical professionals saving lives where most necessary. This non-profit and self-governed organisation serves a crucial purpose that comes with its own set of challenges. Thus, it is important for a medical doctor to be aware of the benefits along with the drawbacks, Doctors Without Borders brings, to make a career-defining decision.

Benefits of Doctors Without Borders

Providing medical assistance to those in dire need

The primary benefit of Doctors Without Borders is the ability to provide medical assistance to people who would otherwise not have access to it. In conflict zones, natural disasters, and other emergencies, this organisation provides medical care to those who need it the most. This includes life-saving treatments, surgeries, and other medical procedures that can help improve their predicaments and eventually the quality of life for those affected.

Empowering local communities

In addition to providing medical assistance, Doctors Without Borders also empowers local communities by training and educating them on how to handle and prevent health-related issues. This helps create a sustainable system of care, encourages informed decision making in times of emergencies and avoid mistakes made whilst in critically adverse medical situations, leading to improve the overall health of communities in the long term.

Advocating for the vulnerable

By working in some of the most difficult and challenging environments in the world, Doctors Without Borders provides a voice for the vulnerable and marginalised communities. Through their work, they bring attention to the plight of people in need, and advocate for their rights to receive the medical care they deserve. This creates a ripple effect, bringing in attention and thereby more help from other different organisations and donors- both private, governmental, and crowdfunded.

Providing employment opportunities

For medical professionals looking to make a difference, Doctors Without Borders provides a unique opportunity to work in a challenging and rewarding environment. By joining the organisation, medical professionals can gain invaluable experience, improve their skills, and make a meaningful contribution to the world by going above and beyond. It is an impressive addition to the CV, giving a competitive edge to the medical professional over other candidates.

Disadvantages of Doctors Without Borders

As much as we would like to believe that such noble causes as Doctors Without Borders have no disadvantages, it is important to accept certain aspects of the job that may prove challenging. By looking at these, medical professionals who are currently looking at joining this organisation can better prepare themselves.

High-stress working environment

Doctors Without Borders operates in some of the most challenging and dangerous environments in the world. This can lead to a high stress working environment, where medical professionals are required to work under intense conditions such as in conflict or natural disasters, often for extended periods of time.

Limited resources

In many of the places where Doctors Without Borders operates, resources can be limited, making it difficult to provide adequate medical care to those in need. This can include a lack of medical supplies, limited access to technology, and other obstacles that can make it difficult to provide the best possible care. However, this would be a great place to learn how to improvise and make do with the resources available, building skills of problem-solving and resilience.

Cultural and language barriers

Often, many of the countries and regions where Doctors Without Borders operates are in underdeveloped or developing, hence there can be significant cultural and language barriers, which can make it difficult for medical professionals to connect with local communities and provide effective care.

Personal safety risks

Working in conflict zones, natural disasters, and other emergencies can be dangerous and pose a risk to the personal safety of medical professionals. This can be a significant concern for those considering joining Doctors Without Borders, and it is important to consider the potential risks before deciding. It would help if one had personal defence and good observational skills to immediately identify if anything is amiss in their natural environment, as that could be a cue to what is to come.

Doctors Without Borders is a unique and important organisation that provides medical assistance to people in need but are not prioritised due to conflict, natural disasters, or even economic instability. Whilst there are certainly benefits to working with this organisation, including the ability to make a difference in the lives of others, there are also disadvantages such as the high-stress working environment and potential risks to personal safety. Ultimately, whether to join Doctors Without Borders is a personal decision that requires careful consideration of the benefits and disadvantages.