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cannot afford them. MSF bargained with these companies,
raised funds and support from their own private donors and
with the help of local governments, successfully purchased
medications, and cutting down the medical bill to nearly a
quarter of the original sum. It is stories like these that
reminded us that miracles do not happened overnight, but if
you are determined enough, no one is too small to change the
world.

Describing how the organization works was also an
interesting chapter. Contrary to popular belief, MSF does not
actually send that many doctors into countries that needed
assistance. Few doctors coordinate with support personnel to
help local medical staff established their own hospitals or
treatment stations. This way, when war ends, these treatment
centers could remain functional when MSF were to withdrawn
from their mission. Not be to exaggerating, but hospitals like
these were only able to work because of all the support MSF
staff contributed, including setting up hospital beds, designing
floor plans and providing training to local doctors and nurses.
These hospitals will remain in action after MSF leaves, and
will continue to be the most competent facilities in offering the
best medical aids.

That to be said, most support personnel working in MSF
were not professionally trained in medicine. Many, however,

107 年度•醫學倫理•人文醫學•心得 5