HONG KONG, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) held its "Multi-disciplinary Enhanced Deployment in Critical Surgical Care" (MEDICS) training in Hong Kong from 5 to 10 November. The training aimed to strengthen MSF aid workers' ability to respond to challenges in humanitarian settings, ensuring that teams can continue to deliver high-quality medical care to patients. A total of 27 medical personnel from 18 countries and regions, including Hong Kong, participated in the training. Over the years, MSF Hong Kong has recruited professionals from across the region to provide medical humanitarian assistance in more than 70 countries, demonstrating the important role Hong Kong and the wider Asian region play in international humanitarian action.

The six-day training brought together experienced MSF facilitators and a diverse group of MSF staff, ranging from new recruits to experienced colleagues. Through lectures, case discussions, and simulation exercises, facilitators shared their frontline experience and knowledge with participants. The training covered specialised clinical topics, including the management of blast and ballistic wounds, fracture management, damage control surgery, emergency obstetric surgery, and pain management. It also addressed non-clinical aspects of humanitarian work, such as personnel management, the supply of medical equipment and medicines, and ethical considerations in humanitarian interventions. These modules helped participants develop a more comprehensive understanding of humanitarian operations and foster teamwork in challenging frontline settings.

Putting learning into practice through simulation

The final day of the training featured a mass casualty simulation exercise, replicating a scenario in which an MSF hospital receives a sudden influx of wounded patients following an explosion. Applying their newly acquired knowledge, participants took on roles as project coordinators, logisticians, and medical staff. They worked together to assess and triage patients while responding to challenges such as staff shortages and depleted supplies, striving to deliver lifesaving medical care. Following the exercise, participants and facilitators held a debriefing session to consolidate lessons learned and explore ways to strengthen their ability to respond to real-world crises.

Shun-Yat Fok, a nurse who previously worked with MSF in Bangladesh and Afghanistan, attended MEDICS training in Hong Kong for the first time. "In places like Hong Kong, hospitals tend to have a highly specialised division of labour. This training gave me the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of other medical specialties, as well as important aspects of humanitarian work, such as supply logistics and medical stock management." said Fok.

"In the field, aid workers often face multiple challenges, including limited resources, high-pressure working environments, and security threats. Teamwork and adaptability are key to overcoming these difficulties, helping us save more lives in humanitarian crises."

MSF provides emergency medical assistance to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, disease outbreaks, and natural disasters, as well as those excluded from healthcare. For more than 30 years, MSF Hong Kong has served as a vital recruitment hub in the region. In 2025 alone, MSF Hong Kong deployed 134 professionals on 163 frontline assignments across 32 countries and regions, with approximately 53% of deployments involving medical and paramedical roles.

Dr. Kandice Li, President of MSF Hong Kong and a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology, said: "In recent years, humanitarian crises around the world have remained severe, making humanitarian assistance more important than ever. The efforts of any single humanitarian organisation or individual aid worker are far from sufficient to meet these immense needs.

"The emergency medical assistance MSF provides is made possible by the dedication and support of our aid workers, supporters and donors. We are deeply grateful for the continued support from Hong Kong and across the Asia-Pacific region. Only when people from different walks of life stand in solidarity with those affected by crises and bring together their skills, resources and strengths can we collectively address the challenges ahead."

About MSF

MSF is an independent international medical humanitarian organisation. We are committed to providing emergency medical assistance to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics and natural disasters, and those who have been excluded from the health care system. MSF will only provide assistance based on people's needs, regardless of race, religion, gender or politics.