As a medical doctor, you will carry out clinical work and collaborate closely with locally hired health staff, including providing training, supervision, and coordination.

Your duties will also include supporting medical data collection and analysis, developing and implementing relevant protocols, and managing medical supplies. MSF projects offer opportunities to work and further develop skills in various areas of practice, such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, nutritional programs, and reproductive health. Data collection, analysis, and reporting are an intrinsic part of the role. You will be responsible for forecasting medical supply needs and managing medical stocks.

MSF also needs experienced medical staff in coordination and management positions, such as medical coordinators.

Locally hired MSF medical staff provide the most direct care. Internationally hired doctors mainly supervise medical staff and have training and administrative responsibilities, including planning medical programs, ordering medication and medical supplies, and reporting on medical activities. Only a small portion of what you do will be hands-on clinical work.

Requirements

• French or Arabic language (B2 or above)
• Postgraduate study in international public health, refugee health, infectious diseases, or tropical medicine
• Infectious Diseases specialty (HIV/TB in particular)

Before you apply

As you consider applying to undertake an MSF assignment, it is essential that you have a well-informed and realistic personal reflection. Assignments often mean long hours with a heavy workload, basic living conditions, and working and living in often chaotic and volatile environments.

Security and Safety

Because Doctors Without Borders’ purpose is to bring medical assistance to people in distress, the work may occur in settings of active conflict, or in post-conflict environments, in which there are inherent risks, potential danger and ongoing threats to safety and security. MSF acknowledges that it is impossible to exclude all risks, but it does its utmost as an organization to mitigate and manage these risks through strict and comprehensive security protocols.

International staff will be fully informed of the risk associated with a potential assignment before accepting a particular posting. Working for MSF is a deeply personal choice; individuals must determine for themselves the level of risk and the circumstances in which they feel comfortable, based on a full and transparent understanding of the possibilities they may face. Once in the assignment, all MSF staff must strictly observe security rules and regulations; failure to do so may result in dismissal.

Terms of Employment

MSF staff are employees with a salary and benefits. 

MSF encourages the completion of multiple assignments. In the medical, non-medical, and coordination streams, there are many possibilities for professional growth within the organization. 

Final Thoughts

As you consider applying to undertake an MSF assignment, is it essential that you have a well-informed and realistic personal reflection. Assignments often mean long hours with a heavy workload, basic living conditions, and working and living in often chaotic and volatile environments.

Despite such challenges, thousands of people have worked with MSF over the years and found their experiences on assignment to be deeply rewarding, even life-changing. More than anything else, being an MSF international worker means acting in solidarity with people facing unimaginable medical challenges. Your presence alongside people in times of need sends a profoundly meaningful and human message: “You are not forgotten.”