Azad Moopen

Azad Moopen (born 15 April 1953 in Kalpakanchery, Kerala) is an Indian healthcare entrepreneur, physician, and philanthropist. He is the developer of many healthcare facilities in Asia-Pacific. He is also the chairman and managing director of Aster DM Healthcare, a healthcare conglomerates in the Middle East and India founded in 1987.[3] In 2010 and 2011, he was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman and Padma Shri by the Government of India, respectively.[4] Forbes ranked him 6th in the "Top 100 Indian Leaders in UAE" list,[5] and according to Arabian Business named him as 29th in the "50 Richest Indians in the GCC".[6]

Azad Moopen
Born (1953-04-15) 15 April 1953
Kalpakanchery, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Businessman
  • Doctor
  • Investor
Net worthUS$1 billion
Board member of
  • Aster DM Healthcare (Chairman and Managing Director)
  • NORKA-Roots (Director)[1]
  • National Committee on Healthcare (Chairman)
  • Confederation of Indian Industry (3. Chairman)
  • Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) Dubai (Governing Board Member)[2]
  • Abu Dhabi University (Member, Executive Advisory Board)
  • Social Advancement Foundation of India (SAFI)(Executive Committee Member)
  • All Kerala Medical Graduates Association (AKMG) UAE (Founder President)
Awards
Websiteasterdmhealthcare.com

Early life and education

Azad Moopen was born on 15 April 1953 in the Indian village Kalpakanchery in Malappuram district of Kerala.[7][8] Son of late MA Moopen, a noble soul, freedom fighter and social leader, Dr. Azad Moopen is a gold medalist in MBBS and a Post Graduate in General Medicine from Calicut Government Medical College in Kerala, and a Diploma holder in Chest Diseases from Delhi University India.

Career

In 1982, Dr. Azad Moopen started his career as a Medical Lecturer at Calicut Medical College but he took a decision of relocating to Dubai in 1987.

From a single doctor clinic in Dubai in 1987, over 33 years, Aster DM Healthcare has grown into a global healthcare conglomerate of more than 377 facilities spread across eight countries[9]

The company is one of the largest integrated healthcare service providers in GCC and India. Along with providing medical care to millions of people across geographies, Aster DM healthcare now provides direct employment to more than 20,500 people which includes approximately 2,998 doctors and the numbers are still growing.[10]

Healthcare development in India

Moopen has been involved in the development of healthcare facilities in India.[11] MIMS hospitals directly employ about 3,000 people.

He participated in establishing the 600-bed tertiary care Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) hospital at Kozhikode in Kerala in 2001. This was the first multi-specialty hospital in India to receive National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers accreditation in 2007. The second 150-bed MIMS hospital was set up at Kottakkal in Malappuram district in 2009.

MIMS Charitable Trust under his leadership established a rural health centre at the backward Vazhayur Panchayat near Kozhikode in 2008 and adopted 7,000 BPL members for comprehensive free out-patient and in-patient care. The trust is adopting the BPL population in the three wards around MIMS in the Corporation of Kozhikode and also plans to conduct a breast and cervical cancer screening programme.

Other activities

He was the Gulf Area convener of the Malabar Airport Development Action Committee, which spearheaded the efforts for the establishment of Kozhikode International Airport through a public–private partnership initiative in the 1990s. This is the first airport set up with such private participation in the country. He is the founding chairman of the Association of Kerala Medical Graduates and the Association of Indian Muslims in the UAE. He is also one of the promoters of Credence High School, Dubai, a secondary school he co-founded along with others in 2014.[12][13]

Moopen is vice chairman of the Social Advancement Foundation of India. The organization is in the process of establishing a deemed university on 350 acres in Malabar to provide access to the students from the backward communities to frontier areas of technology, science and management.

Philanthropy

A dedicated philanthropist, Dr. Azad Moopen, has embarked on numerous social initiatives through Aster DM Foundation and Dr. Moopen Family Foundation.[14]

He strongly believes that profit is a by-product and not our purpose in healthcare, and his initiatives in the field of healthcare, education, women and social empowerment are providing hope to millions across geographies. He has earmarked 20% of his personal wealth for philanthropic activities enabling social change and helping people in need.[15]

Moopen initiated innovative corporate social responsibility programmes. Some of the ongoing non-profit activities of the foundation are the establishment of stand-alone community dialysis centres, early disease detection and cancer screening centres, radiation oncology centres, free paediatric and adult cardiac surgery programmes, subsidies for advanced surgical treatments for underprivileged people, village adoptions and local empowerment programme for women and children, and various health and safety awareness campaigns, across Gulf countries, India, Africa, Afghanistan and Philippines, either directly and through supporting NGOs. He is also actively involved in setting up educational establishments in Saudi Arabia, India and the UAE in moulding future generations. On 14 July 2015, Aster DM Healthcare, chaired by Moopen, made a donation of US$ 2.72 million to Al Jalila Foundation, a UAE based charitable organization promoting medical education and research.[16]

Aster Volunteers

As part of the milestone 'Aster @30' campaign marking their 30th anniversary, He announced the launch of the 'Aster Volunteers' programme. The program seeks to bridge the gap between people who would like to help with those in need, across the regions that Aster DM Healthcare operates in through a web portal platform www.astervolunteers.com. The multi-layered initiative targets communities in the Middle East, Africa and India, and aims to address key challenges that will help make a positive difference in society.[17]

In line with the declaration of 2017 as the Year of Giving by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the 'Aster Volunteers' program reinforces the company's commitment to supporting the communities it serves and recognizes volunteerism as a key pillar of giving.[18]

IPO listing

In February 2018, Aster DM Healthcare announced its initial Public Offer IPO and had fixed a price Rs 180 to Rs 190 for the public offer.[17] Dr. Azad Moopen believes the company will take a decision later to seek listing on other exchanges like London or Dubai.[19]

Awards and recognitions
  • Padma Shri Award by the Government of India[20] (2011)
  • Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the Government of India[21] (2010)
  • Arab Health Award for "Outstanding Contribution of an Individual to the Middle East Healthcare Industry" (2010)[22]
  • Best Doctor Award by the Government of Kerala (2009)[23]
  • Dubai Service Excellence Award (2004) by the Government of Dubai, United Arab Emirates for the Group[5]
  • Kerala Ratna Award by Keraleeyam presented by Shri K G Balakrishnan, Hon. Chief Justice of India, in New Delhi (2008)[24] (Section - Reports 2008-2009)
  • Aslam Kshema Award by Kshema Foundation for outstanding effort to help economically deprived people (2009)[25]
  • Lifetime Achievement Award by FICCI Healthcare Excellence Awards (2018)[26]
  • Honored with the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the 9th Entrepreneur India Awards in 2019[27]
  • Received the 'Visionary CEO of the Year Award' in recognition of his contribution at the CEO Middle East Awards by Arabian Business in 2019[28]
  • Awarded with a fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP), UK in 2019, for his significant contribution to the medical and healthcare profession.[29]
  • Honored with the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the Gulf Indian Leadership Summit in 2018[30]
  • Recognized as one of the '100 Most Inspiring Leaders in the Middle East' by Arabian Business Magazine in 2018[31]
  • Listed #6 in the 'Top 100 Indian Business Leaders in UAE' by Forbes in 2017[32]
  • Arabian Business Achievement Award from the ITP Publishing Group in 2010[33]

See also
  • Dr. Moopens Academy

References
  1. Satish, V. M. (5 March 2013). "Dr Moopen appointed director of NORKA-Roots". Emirates 24/7. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  2. "Governing Board". Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) Dubai.
  3. Jagwani, Lohit (12 February 2014). "We are looking at a turnover of $1B by 2017: Azad Moopen, chairman of Aster DM Healthcare". VC Circle. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  4. Padma Awards Announced Ministry of Home Affairs, 25 January 2011
  5. "Top 100 Indian Leaders in UAE". Forbes. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  6. "50 Richest Indians in the GCC". Arabian Business. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  7. "Sky is the Limit". The Financial Express. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  8. "UAE-based Indian entrepreneur offers jobs to rescued nurses". 7 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  9. "Aster DM Healthcare". Asterdmhealthcare.com. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  10. "Aster DM Healthcare Announces 100 percent Legal Ownership of its Business in Dubai". Business Wire. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  11. "Dubai's Moopen Group to invest $200 Million in Indian healthcare". Silicon India. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  12. "UAE Minister of Education Opens Credence High School to New Academic year". Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  13. "Dubai's new Indian school boasts cutting-edge infrastructure". The National. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  14. "Dr Azad Moopen honoured with life time achievement award". Khaleej Times. 21 July 2019. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  15. "Inaugural Forbes Middle East Indian leaders list ranks Dr. Azad Moopen among top 10". Forbes Middle East. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  16. "Aster DM Healthcare donates Dh10m to Al Jalila Foundation". Gulf News. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  17. "Inaugural Aster DM Healthcare Unveils Global Volunteers Programme To Mark 30 Years". Medical Dialogues. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  18. "Year of Giving".
  19. "Aster DM Healthcare eyes listing in Dubai or London". The National.
  20. "India confers Padma Shri on Dr Moopen". Khaleej Times. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  21. "Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award" (PDF). The Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 October 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. "Global Kerala Initiative – Keraleeyam". Keraleeyam.in. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  25. "Archive News". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  26. "10th FICCI Healthcare Excellence Awards conferred to 16 healthcare professionals, institutions - Medical Dialogues". Medical Dialogues. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  27. "Dr Azad Moopen honoured with lifetime achievement award". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  28. "The best of the best: All the major award winners from 2019". Arabian Business. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  29. "Dr Azad Moopen gets fellowship from UK's Royal College of Physicians". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  30. "Dr. Azad Moopen receives Lifetime Achievement Award at the Gulf Indian Leadership Summit 2018". Zawya MENA. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  31. "100 Inspiring Leaders in the Middle East". Arabian Business.
  32. "Aster's Azad Moopen: 'Charity work led me to UAE, now I'm a billionaire'". Gulf News. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  33. "Management". Aster DM Healthcare.
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