What SAS Brasil does

SAS Brasil (legal name Saúde, Alegria e Sustentabilidade Brasil) is a Brazilian nonprofit OSCIP founded in 2013 by Adriana Mallet and Sabine Zink to deliver free specialist healthcare to populations in Brazilian healthcare deserts — municipalities with low HDI and no access to specialists, where 65 million Brazilians lack specialist coverage and 97% of specialists are concentrated in just 7% of cities. The organization operates a hybrid "Saúde 1.5" model combining itinerant medical expeditions (mobile health units / carretas), permanent Advanced Telemedicine Units (UTAs — modified shipping containers with full consultation infrastructure) installed in partner municipalities, and a proprietary telehealth platform called SIAS (Sistema Integrado de Acesso à Saúde) that enables teleconsultations, tele-ultrasound, telecolposcopy, and patient navigation. Care is organized into vertical programs: Diabetes (VIAS, sponsored by Novo Nordisk), maternal-child health (sponsored by Organon), women's cervical and breast cancer screening (Anariá, sponsored by Roche), pediatric eye health (Ver Magia), dermatology (sponsored by La Roche-Posay/L'Oréal), mental health (sponsored by Instituto Eurofarma), and dental (Sorrisaria). The Living Lab SAS Brasil & Unicamp, established in 2023 with the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Unicamp and Philips Foundation support, serves as an innovation and protocol-dissemination hub. Since founding, SAS Brasil has served 300,000+ people directly across 350 cities in 26 Brazilian states, relying on 5,000+ volunteers (SASers) and a paid staff of 11–50.

SAS Brasil does not generate revenue from patients. Its funding model rests on four streams: individual donations (doe.sasbrasil.org.br, preset amounts of R$30/R$50/R$100 earmarked to specific programs), corporate sponsorships (where each pharma or consumer-health partner typically funds an entire care line), institutional grants (Schwab Foundation/WEF, Philips Foundation, and Brazilian social-investment institutions), and public-private partnerships with municipal and state governments that contribute infrastructure, accommodation, and logistics while SAS Brasil provides medical expertise and technology. Distribution combines field operations (Mobile Health Units and UTAs as direct-to-government channels) with self-serve digital access (SIAS via WhatsApp). Marketing is driven by social-impact storytelling across Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, a blog, press coverage (Folha, Globo, VEJA, Forbes, El País, G1), and a recurring column in VEJA Saúde, supplemented by international forums (Davos/WEF, Roche Press Day, Mercosul). SAS Brasil has won multiple recognitions including the 2021 Folha/Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year (Innovation for Recovery), Novartis XOVA, WSA Brasil (Health & Well-Being), and the 2020 Prêmio Abril & Dasa de Inovação Médica (Social Medicine Innovation, COVID-19 category).

Name

SAS Brasil

Legal name

Saúde, Alegria e Sustentabilidade Brasil

Website

https://sasbrasil.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAS Brasil is a Brazilian nonprofit founded in 2013 that delivers free specialist healthcare to underserved populations via mobile units, permanent telemedicine stations (UTAs), and its proprietary SIAS telehealth platform, serving 300,000+ patients across 350 cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: SAS Brasil receives donations from individuals through its donation platform (doe.sasbrasil.org.br). Donors can contribute any amount or select preset amounts (R$30, R$50, R$100) to support specific initiatives such as children's specialist consultations, mobile unit fuel, and general operations.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors fund specific programs and care lines. Examples include Novo Nordisk (diabetes VIAS program), La Roche-Posay/Grupo L'Oréal (dermatology), Roche (cervical cancer, Luz na Saúde), Philips Foundation (equipment), Instituto Eurofarma (mental health), and Organon (maternal-child care).
3. Foundation and Institutional Grants: International foundations and institutions provide funding and support. Examples include Schwab Foundation/World Economic Forum, Philips Foundation, and various Brazilian social investment organizations.
4. Government Partnerships: Partnerships with municipal and state governments to provide healthcare services, with local authorities contributing infrastructure, accommodation, and logistics support while SAS Brasil provides medical expertise and technology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SAS Brasil is a nonprofit organization that provides free specialist healthcare services to vulnerable populations in Brazil's healthcare deserts through itinerant medical expeditions, permanent Advanced Telemedicine Units (UTAs), and a proprietary telehealth platform (SIAS). Its specialized care lines cover diabetes, maternal-child health, cervical/breast cancer screening, pediatric eye health, dermatology, and mental health, delivered at no cost to patients and funded via donations, corporate sponsorships, and institutional grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Living Lab: First laboratory in Brazil dedicated to disseminating digital health models and social innovation, developed in partnership with Unicamp FCM.
• Ver Magia
• VIAS
• Anariá
• Materno-Infantil
• SIAS
• Sorrisaria
• Luz na Saúde

Products and services

• Ver Magia (Eye Health Program) Complete ophthalmologic care for children aged 0-14 in public schools, including eye exams, ophthalmology consultations, and free eyeglass provision to combat school dropout caused by vision problems. Serves children in underserved municipalities across Brazil. Has provided 33,000+ children with eye care and reduced wait times from months/years to same-day service.
• Anariá (Women's Health / Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening) Women's health care line focused on cervical and breast cancer screening for women in underserved regions. Combines Papanicolaou, Cobas HPV molecular testing, telecolposcopy with AI-assisted screening, and mammography for women over 40. Reduces SUS wait times from 2+ years to approximately 2 months and enables women to remain 5 years out of SUS queues after negative screening. Sponsored by Roche.
• VIAS (Diabetes Care Program) Visão Integrada na Assistência em Saúde — integrated care line for patients with diabetes in underserved municipalities. Provides endocrinology consultations, nutrition counseling, blood tests (HbA1c, kidney function), eye exams, and foot care. Sponsored by Novo Nordisk. Addresses Brazil's status as the country with the 5th largest diabetic population globally (16+ million).
• Materno-Infantil (Maternal-Child Care Program) Maternal-child care line for gestational and pediatric follow-up from pregnancy to the child's second birthday. Features pioneering tele-ultrasound (Teleultrassonografia) using Philips Compact 5000, enabling local nurses to perform prenatal exams under real-time remote specialist guidance. Eliminates hours of travel for pregnant women in remote areas. Sponsored by Organon from July 2023 to July 2024.
• Mental Health Program Online psychotherapy and psychiatric consultations for vulnerable populations delivered via the SIAS telehealth platform and WhatsApp. Has reached 16,000+ mental health patients. Sponsored by Instituto Eurofarma. Addresses mental health stigma and lack of access to mental health professionals in remote areas.
• Dermatology Care Program Dermatology care line providing skin cancer screening, biopsies, cryotherapy, and surgical removal of lesions for patients in high-sun-exposure regions. Sponsored by La Roche-Posay/Grupo L'Oréal with focus on sun protection education and dermatological care in underserved areas.
• SIAS Telehealth Platform (Telessaúde) Sistema Integrado de Acesso à Saúde — proprietary telehealth platform that connects patients with remote specialists, enabling teleconsultations, telediagnostics, and patient navigation throughout the care journey. Patients access via WhatsApp for mental health and other teleconsultations. Awarded by WSA Brasil in the Health & Well Being category.、患者が登録できる遠隔医療のための統合プラットフォーム。
• Advanced Telemedicine Units (UTAs) Modified shipping containers equipped with complete infrastructure for in-person and remote medical consultations, serving as fixed healthcare access points in underserved municipalities. Currently 4 UTAs operational in Cavalcante (GO), Cruz, Barrinha de Baixo, and Celsolândia (CE), providing year-round specialist consultations, cervical cancer screening, and maternal-child care.
• Living Lab SAS Brasil & Unicamp Innovation laboratory in partnership with Unicamp (FCM) for developing and validating digital health protocols, training healthcare professionals, and testing new technologies in real-world settings. Supported by Philips Foundation. Also serves as a training hub for healthcare professionals, students, and startups, and disseminates care models to partner organizations.
• Itinerant Medical Expeditions (Mobile Health Units) Fully equipped mobile medical clinics (carretas) traveling to underserved municipalities for high-impact, short-duration expeditions providing dermatology, ophthalmology, and specialist consultations. Has reached 350 cities in 26 Brazilian states since 2013.
• Sorrisaria (Pediatric Dental Care Program) Odontopediatrics project providing dental care for children in underserved communities as part of SAS Brasil's portfolio of health programs.
• Luz na Saúde (Women's Health Support Program) Project providing free dermatological consultations, psychotherapy, mammography, and laser therapy for women with urinary incontinence, primarily in São Paulo. Co-sponsored by Roche and Instituto Alok.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces cervical cancer care timeline from 2 years to approximately 2 months
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Novo NordiskcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish pharmaceutical company sponsoring the VIAS (Visão Integrada na Assistência em Saúde) diabetes care program. Provides funding and expertise for comprehensive diabetes management including endocrinology, nutrition, and complication screening in underserved municipalities.
• RochecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal pharmaceutical company sponsoring the Anariá cervical cancer care line and the Luz na Saúde project providing laser therapy for urinary incontinence. Supports screening technology and treatment protocols.
• Philips FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilips Foundation provides equipment and funding for the Living Lab and telehealth infrastructure, including the Compact 5000 ultrasound - first in Brazil. Supports expansion of tele-ultrasound and maternal health programs.
• La Roche-Posay / Grupo L'OréalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCosmetics company and L'Oréal Group brand sponsoring the dermatology care line, including skin cancer screening and treatment, with focus on sun protection education and dermatological care in high-exposure regions.
• Instituto EurofarmacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian pharmaceutical company supporting the mental health program, enabling free psychological and psychiatric consultations for vulnerable populations via telehealth.
• Instituto Olhares do BemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Ver Magia eye health program, contributing to pediatric ophthalmology services and free eyeglass provision for children in public schools.
• Fazenda Nova CintracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting the Ver Magia program, contributing to pediatric eye health and free eyeglass donation for children.
• OrganoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal healthcare company (spun off from Merck) sponsoring the maternal-child care line from July 2023 to July 2024, supporting prenatal consultations, exams, and activities for pregnant women and children.
• Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) - Faculdade de Ciências MédicascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for the Living Lab, joint protocol development, research validation, and healthcare professional training in digital health and telemedicine.
• Schwab Foundation / World Economic ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise support organization affiliated with the World Economic Forum. Recognized SAS Brasil as Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021 and provides networking and scaling support.
• HSternminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewelry brand partnership for the Ver Magia campaign, with 'Coração Alado' necklace sales benefiting 334+ children with vision care.
• SertõesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdventure rally event partnership. Sertões expedition routes often serve as locations for SAS Brasil healthcare expeditions, combining off-road rally with health outreach.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReligious organization sponsoring the Anariá women's health line, supporting cervical cancer screening and treatment programs.
• Expedicionários da Saúde (EDS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO providing medical expeditions to remote areas. SAS Brasil has trained EDS nurses in telecolposcopy for indigenous communities in the Amazon.
• Instituto AlokminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial institute co-sponsoring the Luz na Saúde project with Roche, providing laser therapy and healthcare for women in São Paulo.
• Charlotte LunetteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEyewear brand partnership for the Ver Magia program, supporting pediatric eye health and eyeglass provision.
• Instituto PENSIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPediatric institute supporting SAS Brasil programs and initiatives.
• KPMGminorOthersProfessional services firm listed as a supporter, potentially providing advisory and financial reporting services.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• clickmedix: Telemedicine platform purpose-built for low-resource settings, connecting community health workers to specialists in emerging markets. Comparable in applying telehealth to bridge specialist access gaps in underserved communities, though a technology vendor rather than a direct service delivery organization.
• Living Goods: Supports community health workers in Uganda and Kenya to deliver basic health services and products door-to-door. Comparable in deploying a digitally-enabled frontline health worker network in underserved geographies, though focused on primary care rather than specialist services.
• Noora Health: Trains family members of patients in healthcare skills during facility-based care, focused on South and Southeast Asia. Comparable in mission to empower non-specialists to deliver better health outcomes in resource-limited settings, though facility-anchored rather than community-anchored.

Direct peers

• Partners In Health: Nonprofit that delivers free, high-quality healthcare to people living in poverty across Haiti, Rwanda, Peru, and other countries, with emphasis on specialist care, training, and accompaniment. Closest analog to SAS Brasil's model of bringing specialist care to remote, underserved populations via a permanent infrastructure footprint.
• Last Mile Health: Trains and supports community health workers to deliver primary care in last-mile communities across Liberia, Sierra Leone, and other African countries. Directly comparable model of delivering specialist and primary care to healthcare-desert populations using trained community cadres and digital tools.

Broad incumbents

• Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders): International medical humanitarian organization delivering emergency and specialist care in crisis and underserved settings globally. Broader incumbent with overlapping mission of providing free specialist medical care where health systems are absent, though focused on conflict and disaster zones rather than chronic healthcare deserts.
• Project HOPE: Global health and humanitarian NGO delivering health worker training, infectious disease programs, and humanitarian health response worldwide. Comparable in nonprofit health services delivery in low-resource settings and strong donor/sponsor-driven model.

Others

• Dimagi: Builds digital workflow tools (CommCare) for frontline health workers and NGOs in 80+ countries. Enabling technology provider to many organizations pursuing models similar to SAS Brasil's SIAS-enabled community care delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCD4J7q6Gey0kETZl3RGOTQw
• Facebookfacebook.com/SASBrasil4x4
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sas-brasil
• Instagraminstagram.com/sasbrasil4x4
• Xx.com/sasbrasil4x4

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 SAS Brasil