Alisha Moopen, deputy MD of Aster DM Healthcare, had a different challenge to handle during the onset of Covid-19 in West Asia. The virus was spreading fast and Aster, one of the leading healthcare providers in the Gulf, was struggling to mobilise manpower. As flights were grounded, Moopen sought help from rulers in Gulf countries for a special flight to fly nurses from Aster’s India facilities. She also arranged online services of expert doctors from India.
When the pandemic broke, the Board directed Moopen to focus on business of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, Aster’s main revenue earner. Of the total revenues of ₹10,253 crore in FY22, GCC contributed ₹8,608 crore. While the India business turned positive from a loss of ₹91 crore in FY21 to a profit of ₹60 crore in FY22, GCC business’ profit rose from ₹239 crore to ₹466 crore. “Our GCC business is mainly driven by clinics and pharmacies in primary care. It is an insurance-driven market. I am focussing on expanding pharmacies and labs in India as part of our new initiatives,” says Moopen, who joined Aster in 2013. The 41 year old, and mother of three wants to turn Aster into one of the top healthcare providers globally within the next
few years. — P.B. Jayakumar