ASSAMEH - Birth & Beyond

What ASSAMEH - Birth & Beyond does

ASSAMEH Birth & Beyond is a Lebanese non-profit organization founded in 2014 by the late Prof. Robert Sacy, headquartered at the Beirut Governmental University Hospital – Karantina (the Carlos Slim Center for Children). It operates as a hybrid entity — the only known organization in Lebanon functioning as both an NGO and a governmental hospital partner — running the pediatric, NICU, PICU, and obstetrics departments of a public hospital that was previously the abandoned Quarantina facility. The organization has grown capacity from 20 beds to 60 beds and, since inception, has treated 7,792 children, 347 women in obstetrics, and 19,357 total in/out patients. Its technical infrastructure centers on a dedicated neonatal ambulance (the first government-owned neonatal mobile ICU in Lebanon, equipped with portable incubator, mobile respirator, and MRI-compatible monitoring), advanced neonatal and pediatric equipment, and a recently rebuilt facility post-August 2020 Beirut explosion.

The organization delivers a vertically integrated portfolio of services: the Mother & Child Department (pediatric, NICU, PICU), the Obstetric Department (launched September 2024), a Neonatal Ambulance Service for critical patient transport, a Neonatal Ambulance Service for critical patient transport, a Psychology Care Unit, the Cuddles Volunteer Program based on Kangaroo Care, and the Patient Fund program (launched August 2021) which covers hospital costs for vulnerable families identified through structured social assessment. It has no paying customers in the traditional sense — services are provided at no cost to patients — and the revenue model is entirely donation- and grant-driven, including annual galas (Bal du Cèdre), individual giving, corporate sponsorships, and institutional funding from UNICEF, AFD, Fondation Pierre Fabre, Carlos Slim Foundation, Government of Cyprus, and Swiss Government, among others. Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging ambassador programs, media coverage, and high-profile events to drive donor engagement.

The leadership currently comprises President Aboud Chami and Vice President/General Manager Marc Sacy (son of the founder), alongside a Treasurer (Robert Prince, ex-Bank Med) and a small team of approximately 9 employees. ASSAMEH has scaled its partner ecosystem to include medical institutions (La Chaîne de l'Espoir, Global Smile Foundation, Makhzoumi Foundation, St. Georges Hospital), universities (University of Balamand, Lebanese University, ESA, McGill), and government entities (Ministry of Public Health, Beirut Municipal Council, Cyprus Government), and has received regional recognition (TAKREEM 2022 Humanitarian Award; Bachir Gemayel Foundation Recognition 2023). All operations are contained within Lebanon.

Name

ASSAMEH - Birth & Beyond

Legal name

ASSAMEH Birth & Beyond

Website

https://assamehbb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ASSAMEH Birth & Beyond is a Lebanese non-profit founded in 2014 that operates the pediatric, NICU, PICU, and obstetrics departments of Beirut Governmental University Hospital – Karantina, serving vulnerable mothers and children with free maternal and child healthcare.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maternal and Pediatric Healthcare Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (MNCH) Programs (BPADAIAC), Maternal, Child & Family Health Departments (HLAJAAAK)

Keywords

• Maternal healthcare services
• Pediatric hospital care
• Neonatal intensive care
• Nonprofit healthcare operations
• Obstetric medical services

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization operates entirely on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government grants. Revenue comes from annual gala events, individual fundraising campaigns, corporate sponsorships, and institutional funding from development agencies and international organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ASSAMEH Birth & Beyond operates as a non-profit organization delivering maternal and child healthcare services through the direct management of pediatric, NICU, PICU, and obstetrics departments at Beirut Governmental University Hospital – Karantina. The organization provides free medical care to vulnerable mothers and children, supported by a Patient Fund, neonatal ambulance transport, and psychological care services. Services are funded entirely through donations, corporate sponsorships, and institutional grants from development agencies and foundations.

Product overview

ASSAMEH Birth & Beyond is a Lebanese non-profit organization founded in 2014 that operates as both an NGO and governmental hospital entity. The organization provides a comprehensive integrated model of maternal and child healthcare through its flagship facility, the Carlos Slim Center for Children at Beirut Governmental University Hospital – Karantina. The product portfolio includes: Mother & Child Department offering pediatric, NICU, PICU, and obstetrics services; Patient Fund providing financial support to cover hospital costs for vulnerable families; Neonatal Ambulance Service for critical patient transport; Neonatology and Pediatrics Psychology Care Unit for emotional support; and the Cuddles Volunteer Program based on Kangaroo Care Method. The organization also partners with La Chaîne de l'Espoir for specialized nurse training and patient transfers. Since 2014, they have supported over 7,792 children and 347 women, operating from a 60-bed hospital facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mother & Child Department Comprehensive maternal and child healthcare department at Beirut Governmental University Hospital – Karantina, providing pediatric, NICU, PICU, and obstetrics services to vulnerable mothers and children in Lebanon.
• Pediatric Department Pediatric ward providing care for sick children including art therapy and psychological support, with staff training and supply of essential consumables.
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Intensive care unit for premature and critically ill newborns, equipped with advanced medical equipment and supported by specialized medical staff.
• Obstetric Department Maternal healthcare department launched September 2024 providing comprehensive, respectful care to women, funded by midwifery salaries, furniture, consumables, and medical supplies.
• Patient Fund Program established August 2021 to ensure no patient is denied lifesaving care due to financial hardship, covering hospital costs for vulnerable patients through a social assessment process.
• Neonatal Ambulance Service First and only government-owned neonatal mobile intensive care unit ambulance in Lebanon, fully equipped with portable incubator, mobile respirator, and MRI-compatible monitoring system for safe transport of critically ill newborns.
• Neonatology and Pediatrics Psychology Care Unit Psychological unit integrated into operations supporting newborns, children, their families, and healthcare workers with emotional support and guidance.
• Cuddles Volunteer Program Volunteer program built around Kangaroo Care Method where volunteers provide skin-to-skin contact and cuddles to help babies heal faster with greater growth and physiologic stability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,792 children treated since 2014
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of Public Health (Lebanon)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Organized scientific workshop on congenital malformations under patronage of Minister of Public Health Dr. Rakan Nassereddine. Collaborative partnership to strengthen prevention and reinforce healthcare system.
• La Chaîne de l'Espoir (CDE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Partnership for specialized nurse training across Lebanon and transfer of 90 critical medical cases from hospitals throughout Lebanon to Beirut Governmental Hospital – Quarantina. ASSAMEH B&B provides ambulance service for safe patient transport.
• Makhzoumi FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Hired 5 full-time nurses to work at the hospital, covering salaries, NSSF and all other employee requirements. Addresses the challenge of ASSAMEH B&B's inability to directly hire employees as a public institution.
• Global Smile FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Committed to providing cleft care surgeries for children at Carlos Slim Center for Children. Team visits Lebanon yearly to perform approximately 150 operations. Medical teams train together and align on treatment methods.
• University of BalamandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular conventions held with university to share case studies with next generation of doctors. Medical students visit the hospital on regular basis to observe work being done.
• Lebanese UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical students from Lebanese University visit the hospital regularly to observe work and gain hands-on experience alongside ASSAMEH B&B medical team.
• St. Georges HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhen specialists are needed for cases at Carlos Slim Center for Children, ASSAMEH B&B consults with St. Georges Hospital's specialized medical teams.
• ESA (École Supérieure des Affaires)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity offering course on ASSAMEH B&B as case study for management students, examining unique model of operating as both NGO and governmental hospital.
• McGill University (Montreal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity offering course on ASSAMEH B&B as management case study. Dr. Sacy held conference to address students on day-to-day operations, challenges and achievements.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights14 records

Broad incumbents

• Direct Relief: U.S.-based humanitarian aid organization focused on medical material support and health programs for vulnerable populations. Operates in adjacent space to ASSAMEH with broader geographic footprint.
• Americares: Health-focused humanitarian aid organization supporting under-resourced health facilities worldwide. Comparable to ASSAMEH in mission to strengthen medical care for vulnerable populations, operating at a broader international scale.
• Médecins Sans Frontières: International medical humanitarian organization that operates hospitals and clinics in crisis and conflict zones. Comparable to ASSAMEH in delivering hospital-based medical care in fragile states, but at significantly larger scale and geographic reach.
• International Medical Corps: Humanitarian organization providing health care and training in conflict-affected areas, including maternal and child health services. Comparable to ASSAMEH in delivering hospital-based medical services in fragile states, with broader geographic scope.
• Save the Children: Global NGO focused on children's health, education, and welfare with substantial maternal-newborn-child health programming. Overlaps with ASSAMEH in child health mission but operates at much broader scale and policy advocacy level.

Direct peers

• Partners in Health: Non-profit organization that operates hospitals and health facilities in low-resource settings with a focus on maternal and child health. Closely comparable to ASSAMEH in the model of an NGO directly managing clinical services in a fragile-state environment.
• March of Dimes: U.S.-based nonprofit focused on maternal and infant health, supporting research, advocacy, and direct care. Comparable to ASSAMEH in mission focus on premature babies and maternal-child outcomes, though larger in scale.
• La Chaîne de l'Espoir: French NGO providing pediatric surgical care and medical training in developing countries. Already a partner of ASSAMEH (nurse training and case transfers), and directly comparable in operating specialty pediatric services in fragile states.
• Global Smile Foundation: Non-profit providing cleft care surgeries for children in developing countries. Already a partner of ASSAMEH (performs ~150 cleft surgeries/year at Carlos Slim Center), and directly comparable as a specialty pediatric care provider operating through hospital partnerships.

Others

• Clinton Health Access Initiative: Global health organization that works with governments and partners to improve market access for medicines and health services. Adjacent to ASSAMEH in the broader maternal-child health ecosystem, with more emphasis on systems-level interventions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/assamehbb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/assamehbb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ASSAMEH - Birth & Beyond