It is quite common for developing countries to rely on developed nations for essential supplies, particularly medical resources that may not always be readily available locally.
Interestingly, several hospitals in Washington, D.C. extend their support by donating free medical supplies to developing countries.
These contributions often include vital equipment, medications, and other health-related resources that play a crucial role in improving patient care and addressing urgent medical needs abroad.
If you are based in a developing country and are seeking hospitals in Washington, D.C. that provide free medical supplies, here are a few hospitals and organizations involved in these efforts, as well as provide insights into how to benefit from these valuable donations.
Hospitals in Washington, DC That Donate Free Medical Supplies to Developing Countries
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SHARE (Supporting Hospitals Abroad with Resources and Equipment) – Johns Hopkins Medicine
SHARE is a student and healthcare professional initiative at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland (near D.C.), that collects unused yet clean surgical supplies, gloves, sutures, and gowns from its operating rooms that would otherwise be discarded due to U.S. sterility regulations.
These supplies are redistributed to developing nations, reducing medical waste while supporting global health.
SHARE not only serves as a practical bridge between surplus and need but also nurtures global awareness and responsibility among future healthcare professionals.
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Doctors International – The GW Medical Faculty Associates
Based in Washington, D.C., Doctors International is affiliated with George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates (GW MFA).
The program dispatches multidisciplinary medical and surgical teams, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and more, to underserved international locations for 1–2 week missions.
In addition to delivering care free of charge, these missions emphasize training local providers to continue care independently.
Recipients gain not just treatment but sustainable capacity. Past missions have included Guatemala and Guyana, focusing on surgery, urology, and education.
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CrossLink International
Based in Falls Church, VA (serving the D.C. metro area), CrossLink International is a Christian nonprofit that supplies medical mission teams, local free clinics, and mission hospitals with customized packages of medicines, supplies, and eyeglasses.
Working with hospitals, distributors, and manufacturers, they collect surplus medical materials and redistribute them to underserved communities globally, acting as a key logistical bridge between donors and those in need.
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MedShare (via Washington, D.C. partners)
MedShare, while headquartered outside Washington, D.C., actively partners with hospitals, manufacturers, and nonprofits in the D.C. area to redirect surplus medical supplies and equipment to communities in need worldwide.
The organization carefully processes and sorts donations, preparing them for both mission teams and direct shipments to clinics in developing countries.
Local initiatives, such as Nyasha Africa, often collaborate with MedShare to coordinate containerized shipments, ensuring that essential medical resources reach underserved populations efficiently and safely.
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Nyasha Africa
A non-profit based in Washington, D.C., Nyasha Africa focuses on supporting healthcare and education in Africa.
They collaborate with organizations such as MedShare to arrange containerized shipments of medical equipment requested by African healthcare partners.
Shipping typically costs $25,000 per container, with an additional fee if the container is not returned.
This collaborative model ensures that donated supplies align with recipient needs, minimizing waste and maximizing impact.
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AFCA (American Foundation for Children with AIDS)
The American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA) partners with hospitals across the United States to recover unused, surplus, or even opened-but-unused medical supplies, along with vital pediatric antiretroviral medications.
These donations, which also include testing kits and other essential healthcare items, are shipped to partner hospitals abroad that serve children and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
By rescuing supplies that might otherwise end up as waste, AFCA ensures they are redirected to where they are urgently needed, bridging critical gaps in maternal and pediatric care within under-resourced healthcare systems worldwide.
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Medical Missionaries (Manassas, VA, serving D.C. area)
Medical Missionaries, based in Manassas, Virginia, is a nonprofit committed to improving healthcare access for underserved populations both locally and worldwide.
The organization collects donations of unopened medical supplies, gently used medical equipment such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, and crutches, as well as over-the-counter medications with adequate shelf life.
Once sorted and packaged, these items are shipped to vulnerable communities in developing countries, where they fill critical healthcare gaps.
Donors are encouraged to contact the organization before drop-off to ensure items meet current needs and shipping requirements.
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Brothers Brother Foundation (BBF)
Brothers Brother Foundation (BBF) is a respected nationwide nonprofit dedicated to improving international health, education, and humanitarian relief.
Founded in Pittsburgh, it has grown to operate across the United States, including the Washington, D.C. region, where it collaborates with hospitals, institutions, and individual donors.
BBF gathers surplus medical supplies, equipment, and educational resources, then ships them to underserved communities worldwide.
Its work not only addresses immediate healthcare needs but also strengthens long-term community development.
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Not Just Tourists
Not Just Tourists is a volunteer-driven, grassroots nonprofit that empowers travelers to act as couriers of healthcare aid.
Headquartered in Canada but active across the U.S., including Washington, D.C., the organization collects surplus medical supplies such as gloves, gauze, masks, and other essentials that might otherwise go unused.
These supplies are packed into donated suitcases, which volunteers or travelers personally deliver to clinics and hospitals in low-income countries.
This unique approach bridges gaps in global healthcare while engaging ordinary people in hands-on humanitarian service during their journeys.
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Direct Relief International
Although headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, Direct Relief operates nationwide, including partnerships in Washington, D.C., to mobilize medical resources where they are needed most.
The organization is renowned for collecting surplus medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and essential equipment from hospitals, manufacturers, and individual donors.
These resources are then carefully sorted, packed, and distributed to healthcare facilities in low-income countries and disaster-stricken areas.
Direct Relief’s model emphasizes efficiency and accountability, ensuring that aid reaches vulnerable populations swiftly.
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Project C.U.R.E. (Washington, D.C. Office)
Project C.U.R.E. is the world’s largest distributor of donated medical supplies and equipment to resource-limited countries, serving over 135 countries.
From its Washington, D.C. office, the organization collects surplus hospital supplies ranging from surgical instruments and beds to PPE and assembles them into thoughtfully packed cargo containers for international shipment.
Volunteers assist in sorting, packing, and coordinating distribution logistics.
Partner hospitals and independent donors in the D.C. area can drop off supplies by appointment, contributing essential resources that would otherwise remain unused.
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IMA World Health
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., IMA World Health (formerly Interchurch Medical Assistance) has been facilitating global medical donations since its founding in 1960.
The organization solicits and consolidates in-kind contributions, including pharmaceuticals, clinical supplies, and diagnostic tools, from manufacturers, hospitals, and other donors.
These goods are then distributed to clinics, refugee centers, and disaster relief programs across developing nations.
With over $1 billion in supplies and shipments to more than 50 countries, IMA stands as a major conduit for U.S.-based medical generosity.
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Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO)
Based in Washington, D.C., Health Volunteers Overseas focuses on training, mentorship, and education rather than direct shipping of supplies.
Since 1986, HVO has established equitable partnerships with institutions in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean.
Volunteer health professionals from its D.C. base provide in-person and virtual instruction across more than 18 specialties.
By building local capacity rather than simply delivering materials, HVO ensures sustainable improvement of health systems in low-resource settings, though it does not directly disseminate physical supplies.
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Project HOPE
Project HOPE, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a longstanding international health and humanitarian NGO founded in 1958.
It tackles global health challenges, including infectious diseases, maternal–child health, and disaster response through initiatives that involve education, capacity building, and resource delivery.
While known for operations such as sending the SS Hope hospital ship, Project HOPE still conducts programs that include providing medical supplies and deploying healthcare workers to underserved, developing regions.
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Afya (New York-based, with U.S. Hospital Partnerships)
Although headquartered in New York, Afya collaborates with medical institutions across the U.S., including those in Washington, D.C., to collect unused or surplus medical supplies and equipment.
Leveraging an efficient logistics model, Afya rescues donations that might otherwise go to waste and ships them to underserved global communities.
Since 2008, it has delivered nearly $49.5 million worth of medical and humanitarian supplies to clients in over 87 countries, making it a powerful bridge between surplus and need.
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Heart to Heart International (HHI)
Heart to Heart International offers medical aid worldwide by providing medicine and equipment to clinics and medical missions.
Their “Custom Order Program” lets organizations request specific supplies from first aid staples like antibiotics and OTC pain relievers to more complex equipment.
HHI also offers standardized kits like the “Ready Relief Box,” stocked with essentials such as rehydration salts, topical creams, and allergy medications for emergency relief and medical mission use.
While not strictly D.C.-based, HHI often partners with hospitals and donors across the U.S., including those in D.C., to fill these kits for global shipment.
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International Medical Equipment Collaborative (IMEC)
IMEC is a nonprofit that gathers medical, educational, and agricultural equipment to support developing countries.
They collect surplus or gently used medical gear from hospitals, clinics, manufacturers, and individuals; refurbish, pack, and ship it abroad.
Though based mainly in the U.S., IMEC works with donors nationwide, making it accessible to D.C.-area hospitals looking to contribute equipment.
IMEC’s efforts help strengthen healthcare infrastructure by repurposing items that would otherwise go unused or be discarded.
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Medical Bridges
Medical Bridges rescues surplus medical supplies that would otherwise be discarded and redistributes them to healthcare providers in less fortunate countries.
Donations from hospitals, clinics, and suppliers, especially in metropolitan hubs like Washington, D.C., are redirected to global partners in developing regions.
Their mission is to reduce waste while enhancing healthcare access globally.
Partner hospitals in D.C. can drop off surplus materials, knowing they will benefit underserved clinics abroad.
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MediSend International
MediSend International not only distributes medical supplies and biomedical equipment to developing-country hospitals but also provides sustainable training and technical support.
Their programs include certified biomedical equipment technician training, testing and repair services, and ongoing technical assistance alongside supply distribution.
Hospitals in D.C. can contribute surplus equipment and benefit patients via MediSend’s integrated approach, which ensures equipment remains functional long-term, enhancing local healthcare systems while preventing medical waste.
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MAP International
MAP International enables healthcare agencies and medical mission teams to access essential medicines and supplies for serving impoverished communities globally.
They rely on donations from manufacturers, hospitals, and individuals to stock medical resources, then distribute them based on mission needs.
While headquartered elsewhere, they coordinate with U.S. partners, including hospitals in the D.C. area, allowing local institutions to channel surplus or unused supplies to those in urgent need abroad consistently.