Balsam (The Lebanese Palliative Care Center)

During the first half of 2026, Balsam - the Lebanese Center for Palliative Care, continued expanding access to free, home-based palliative care for patients living with serious illnesses across Lebanon. The funds raised through GlobalGiving have directly supported the delivery of essential palliative care services, allowing Balsam's multidisciplinary team to respond to the increasing number of patients and families seeking support. From January 1 to June 30, 2026, Balsam received 167 referrals and admitted 121 new patients into its care. This represents an increase in the pace of service delivery compared with the full year of 2025 when 314 referrals were received and 212 patients were admitted, reflecting both increased visibility of palliative care and the ability to provide care to more people in need.

The support made possible through funds raised has helped ensure that more patients can benefit from medical follow-up, pain and symptom management, psychosocial support, and caregiver guidance at home. One of the patients supported by Balsam was N.S., who was living with advanced pancreatic cancer and experiencing difficult symptoms. Through regular home visits and individualized care provided by Balsam's team, N.S. received comfort-focused support that improved quality of life while helping the family feel more prepared and supported throughout the care journey.

The continued growth in referrals and admissions demonstrates the impact of sustained support in making palliative care accessible to a greater number of patients and families across Lebanon. By enabling Balsam to extend its services, the funds raised have contributed to reducing suffering, preserving dignity, and ensuring that more individuals facing serious illness receive compassionate, comprehensive care when they need it most.