Azad Moopen
Azad Moopen | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 15, 1953 Kalpakanchery, Malappuram district, Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Healthcare entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder, chairman and managing director of Aster DM Healthcare |
Azad Moopen (born 15 April 1953) is a prominent Indian healthcare entrepreneur and the visionary behind Aster DM Healthcare, a major healthcare enterprise operating in both the Middle East and India since 1987.[1]
Early life and education
Azad Moopen was born on 28 July 1953 in Kalpakanchery, located in Malappuram district, Kerala. He is the son of the late Mandayapurath Ahmed Unni Moopen, who was a distinguished freedom fighter and community leader. His early schooling took place at GVHSS Kalpakanchery. Moopen graduated with top honors, receiving a gold medal in MBBS, followed by a postgraduate specialization in General Medicine from Government Medical College, Kozhikode. Additionally, he earned a Diploma in Chest Diseases from Delhi University.
Family
Moopen is married to Naseera Azad and they have three daughters: Alisha, Ziham, and Zeba Moopen.
Career
Beginning his professional journey in 1982 as a Medical Lecturer at Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Moopen later moved to Dubai in 1987.
From modest origins as a single-doctor clinic in Dubai, Aster DM Healthcare has grown into an international healthcare conglomerate with more than 377 facilities spread over eight countries within 34 years.
Today, Aster DM Healthcare stands as one of the leading integrated healthcare providers across the GCC and India, employing upwards of 20,500 individuals, including nearly 2,998 physicians.
Healthcare development in India
Moopen significantly contributed to advancing healthcare infrastructure in India. The Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) hospitals collectively employ approximately 3,000 staff members.
He was pivotal in launching the 600-bed MIMS tertiary care hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala, in 2001—recognized as India’s first multi-specialty hospital accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) in 2007. A second facility with 150 beds was inaugurated in Kottakkal in 2009.
Under his guidance, the MIMS Charitable Trust established a rural health center near Kozhikode in 2008 that delivers free comprehensive medical services to roughly 7,000 individuals classified as Below Poverty Line (BPL). The trust also extends support to BPL communities surrounding MIMS and is developing screening initiatives for breast and cervical cancer.
Other activities
Moopen has served as Gulf convener for the Malabar Airport Development Action Committee, playing a crucial role in the creation of Kozhikode International Airport through a pioneering public–private partnership—the first airport project of its kind in India.
He is the founding chairman of both the Association of Kerala Medical Graduates and the Association of Indian Muslims in the UAE. In 2014, he co-established Credence High School in Dubai.
Moopen holds the position of vice chairman at the Social Advancement Foundation of India and actively participates in philanthropic efforts via Aster DM Foundation and Dr. Moopen Family Foundation.
IPO listing
In February 2018, Aster DM Healthcare announced its initial Public Offer (IPO) with a price band set between Rs 180 and Rs 190. Founder Azad Moopen also expressed intentions to explore listing opportunities on other stock exchanges such as those in London or Dubai.
Awards and honors
- Padma Shri conferred by the Government of India (2011)
- Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awarded by the Government of India (2010)
- Arab Health Award recognizing "Outstanding Contribution of an Individual to the Middle East Healthcare Industry" (2010)
- Best Doctor accolade from the Government of Kerala (2009)
- Dubai Service Excellence Award presented to the Group by the Government of Dubai (2004)
- Kerala Ratna Award granted by Keraleeyam, handed over by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan in New Delhi (2008)
- Aslam Kshema Award from Kshema Foundation for supporting economically disadvantaged communities (2009)
- FICCI Healthcare Excellence Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award (2018)
- Lifetime Achievement Award at the 9th Entrepreneur India Awards (2019)
- Visionary CEO of the Year Award at the CEO Middle East Awards by Arabian Business (2019)
- Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP), UK, honoring healthcare contributions (2019)
- Lifetime Achievement Award presented at the Gulf Indian Leadership Summit (2018)
- Listed among '100 Most Inspiring Leaders in the Middle East' by Arabian Business Magazine (2018)
- Ranked sixth in Forbes’ 'Top 100 Indian Business Leaders in UAE' (2017)
- Arabian Business Achievement Award from ITP Publishing Group (2010)
See also
- ↑ He has been instrumental in establishing numerous healthcare institutions across the Asia-Pacific region and currently holds the positions of chairman and managing director at Aster DM Healthcare.