SAS Brasil
SAS Brasil is a nonprofit social organization committed to revolutionizing access to specialized healthcare for vulnerable populations in remote and underserved communities across Brazil. By blending in-person and telehealth services—through innovative, technology-driven models—they reduce wait times, provide comprehensive care from prevention to treatment, and address systemic disparities in the public health system (SUS). Their mission is: 'To deliver specialized healthcare with joy to those who lack access, transforming health access in Brazil.'
Theory of Change
Inputs
Dedicated health professionals (doctors, nurses, psychologists, nutritionists, volunteers)
Advanced telehealth infrastructure and mobile health units
Strategic partnerships (Unicamp, Novo Nordisk, Organon, Philips Foundation, Roche, La Roche-Posay, Instituto Eurofarma, others)
Educational materials and capacity-building resources
Funding and in-kind support from sponsors and partners
Activities
In-person and telemedicine consultations/events
Diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for chronic and acute health needs
Community health education and prevention campaigns
Training of local health professionals and dissemination of digital health protocols
Targeted interventions for women, children, and chronic/difficult-to-access conditions
Outputs
Specialized health services delivered nationwide (over 200 cities/21 states)
Thousands of new diagnoses and treatments performed annually
Hundreds of local professionals trained
Millions reached with health information, prevention, and intervention
Outcomes
Dramatic improvement of health outcomes for remote and vulnerable Brazilian populations
Reduced inequity in access to specialized healthcare
Acceleration of digital transformation in the health sector
Empowerment of local communities and workforce through capacity building
Programs
1. Living Lab
A pioneering laboratory for digital health innovation, research, and training. In partnership with Unicamp, Living Lab develops, tests, and validates new healthcare protocols, offering open access for students, health professionals, and startups. It serves as a platform for capacity building and knowledge dissemination in digital health.(videoconferencing, digital health platforms) Course/training resources
Partnerships with Unicamp and Philips Foundation
Health innovation experts
Technology infrastructure (videoconferencing, digital health platforms)
Course/training resources
Develop and test new telehealth protocols
Deliver open courses/trainings
Promote extension projects and research
Foster collaboration among trainees and professionals
New protocols validated and disseminated
Health professionals and students trained
Research projects completed
Partnership projects implemented
Expansion of digital health solutions in Brazil
Improved care models for remote/underserved populations
Strengthened capacity of health workforce
Enhanced healthcare access through telehealth innovation
2. Linha de Cuidado VIAS (Integrated Diabetes/Chronic Care)
Integrated approach for diagnosis and monitoring of chronic diseases (esp. diabetes) using a combination of in-person and telehealth for triage, comprehensive exams, education, and long-term patient support in underserved communities.
Medical teams (endocrinology, nutrition, nursing)
Mobile and remote health infrastructure (Advanced Telemedicine Units, 'Mutirinhos')
Educational materials
Partnership with Novo Nordisk
Run triage and diagnostic events
Provide continuous in-person and telehealth support
Conduct training/education for community health staff and local clinics
Deliver health education sessions for patients
High-quality exams performed (eye check, HbA1c, renal function, foot exams)
New diagnoses and treatment plans developed
Local professionals trained
Health promotion events held
Early diagnosis and improved chronic disease management
Reduced complications from diabetes in vulnerable settings
Empowered local health systems and patients
Expanded reach of quality chronic care in rural/remote Brazil
3. Linha de Cuidado Materno-Infantil (Maternal and Child Care)
Provides comprehensive gestational and pediatric care, focusing on prenatal support, early childhood (first 1,000 days) health, and education for mothers in remote and vulnerable areas—integrating telemedicine with local clinics for better outcomes.
Multidisciplinary teams (pediatrics, nutrition, dental)
Teleultrasound and telehealth platforms
Community support groups
Partnership with Organon
Remote and in-person prenatal and child health checkups
Deliver health education to mothers
Facilitate support groups for pregnant and new mothers
Offer tele-dental and nutritional counseling
Women complete prenatal exams and receive ongoing health counseling
Children receive early life developmental checkups
Community health workers trained to support maternal/child care
Reduced maternal and infant morbidity/mortality
Increased prenatal care engagement
Raised maternal health literacy and empowerment
Strengthened community support for mothers and children
4. Saúde Mental (Mental Health)
Telehealth-based psychological and psychiatric support for people in vulnerable social situations. Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it offers brief psychotherapy cycles to prevent and manage mental health crises, using digital platforms to maximize reach in underserved regions.
Team of psychologists, psychiatrists, volunteer therapists
Telehealth and WhatsApp communication systems
Partnership with Instituto Eurofarma
Conduct remote psychosocial triage
Deliver psychotherapy and psychiatric consultations online
Promote mental health education and support in communities
Remote sessions completed (over 3,500 in 2023)
Patients with ongoing therapeutic/psychiatric follow-up
Community-based referral and support systems
Early intervention and improved management of mental health issues
Broader access to psychosocial care in remote settings
Reduced severity and chronicity of mental illnesses in beneficiaries
Other Information
Core Values
Innovation in healthcare: Constant pursuit and adoption of new technologies and models for greater impact.
Equity and inclusion: Commitment to reaching the most marginalized and hard-to-reach populations.
Collaboration and partnership: Multisector collaboration is fundamental to national-scale health solutions.
Comprehensive care: From prevention to treatment, addressing patients' health holistically.
Humanized service: Delivering not only technical medical support, but also joy, dignity, and compassion.
Scale
More than 120,000 direct beneficiaries since 2013
Present in over 200 cities and 21 states of Brazil
Remote/telehealth programs expanded reach to hundreds of municipalities (>300 during COVID-19 pandemic)
Thousands of healthcare professionals and volunteers mobilized each year
Annual numbers (sample): 3,500+ teleconsultations (Mental Health, 2023), 70,000+ remote beneficiaries (2020 pandemic response), 50,000+ maternal/child care attendances (2022)
Affected Users
Vulnerable and low-income populations in remote/peripheral areas
Children and adolescents in public schools (esp. for vision and pediatric care)
Women (with focus on cancer prevention/treatment, reproductive health)
Chronic disease patients (diabetes and others)
Mothers and children (prenatal and early childhood care)
Individuals experiencing mental health crises
Geographical Areas
Brazil (all regions, over 200+ cities in 21 states)
Ceará
Goiás
Maranhão
São Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Pernambuco
Paraíba
Piauí
Mato Grosso
Paraná
Bahia
Tocantins
Mato Grosso do Sul
Pará
Contact Info
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