Though misunderstood at first, Doctors Without Borders’ bold decision to stop accepting tsunami-relief donation could help revive public trust in nonprofits.

By Paul Barbagallo

The latter juggernaut happens to commit huge funds to international-relief organizations on an annual basis. Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb and GlaxoSmithKline are just a few of the pharmaceutical firms that have contributed mightily to the tsunami-relief effort.

MSF feels that accepting corporate funding from pharmaceutical firms, particularly members of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, would compromise its position with respect to its Access to Essential Medicines Campaign.