What is Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF)?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) An agency formed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to check misuse of drugs by sportspersons
(b) A non-governmental organization which specializes in international humanitarian aid and emergency medical assistance
(c) An organization to develop applications of nanotechnology in medicine
(d) An organization of medical practitioners funded by the European Union which carries out reach against spread of AIDS.
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF)
- An international, independent medical humanitarian organisation
- MSF provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare.
- MSF teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff – most of them hired locally.
- Their actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.