These are some of the basic criteria which govern the projects developed by Doctors with Africa Cuamm:

• Developing roots: An active presence is maintained in those countries where our work experience is longer, to make the most of our knowledge of local realities and the relationships we have developed over time, and to better concentrate our efforts (through increased efficiency and negotiating capacity).

• Human resources: training activities are developed which aim to give African staff the opportunity to increase their professional and managerial capabilities. This is congruous with our original aim of constructing direct relationships.

• Emerging needs: we intervene in the areas of greatest need, with the aim of creating a health service which can be sustained by local resources.

• Integration with the public and private non-profit sectors: we maintain our choice to support private non-profit health structures to help them to continue to be accessible for all, favouring their integration with the public system which, as Doctors with Africa CUAMM recognises, has a fundamental role in the promotion of health issues and the planning of health services.

• Planning and financial autonomy: Our commitment to independence and autonomy is safeguarded through our focus on cooperation and on local healthcare policy. In a continent like Africa where, more than any other area of the world, the population faces enormous barriers – above all economic and geographical ones – in order to have access to the health services, the principles of accessibility and equal opportunity are carefully considered in every kind of activity and project, with two principal aims:

   - To guarantee long term support to local hospitals and services, contributing to the goal of making these services accessible to everyone;

   - To stimulate and support equitable forms of financing the health system , built on the principles of solidarity and shared risk.