Alisha Moopen honoured with Pravasi Bhushan Award; Aster Medcity launches CAR-T Cell therapy programme

On November 08, 2024, Alisha Moopen, Deputy Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare, was presented with the “Pravasi Bhushan” Award by Dr C.V Ananda Bose, Governor of West Bengal, at Aster Medcity in Kochi. The award acknowledges her leadership and commitment to improving healthcare accessibility and quality, both in India and internationally. The event also saw the launch of Aster Medcity’s CAR-T Cell Therapy Programme for the treatment of blood cancers, with the inauguration led by Dr. Bose and attended by MP Hibi Eden, Moopen, Anoop Moopen, and senior leadership from Aster.

The Pravasi Bhushan Award recognises Moopen’s contributions to the healthcare sector. She joined Aster DM Healthcare in 2013 and has been instrumental in shaping its strategic direction, driving growth, and expanding into new markets. Aster DM Healthcare has since become one of the largest healthcare service providers in India, offering comprehensive care across primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary services. The company now serves millions of patients and employs over 17,000 people, including 1,828 doctors and 6,330 nurses.

Moopen completed her chartered accountancy at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and worked as a Chartered Accountant at Ernst & Young before joining Aster. She also holds a degree in Finance & Accounting from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a degree in Global Leadership & Public Policy Change from Harvard University. Over the years, she has received numerous global awards and accolades for her work in the healthcare sector.

In her acceptance speech, Moopen said, “I am deeply honoured to receive the Pravasi Bhushan Award from His Excellency, Dr Ananda Bose, Governor of West Bengal. This recognition not only reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to patient care and fostering innovation but also honours the vision and relentless hard work of our Chairman, Dr Azad Moopen, who built Aster from a single clinic into a global healthcare conglomerate in a span of just three decades. His journey inspires us every day to strive for excellence and make quality healthcare accessible to all. I am grateful for this acknowledgment and remain committed to carrying forward this legacy.”

Moopen also spoke about the launch of the CAR-T Cell Therapy Programme, saying, “CAR T-cell therapy is a major breakthrough in the treatment of leukaemia and B-cell lymphoma, particularly for patients who have relapsed or are unresponsive to conventional treatments. Due to the complexity, high costs, and specialised infrastructure required, CAR T-cell therapy is often limited to a few centres. With the launch of this programme, Aster Medcity aims to provide world-class, accessible, and cutting-edge cancer treatment options, thus significantly easing the financial and logistical burdens on patients.”

Aster DM Healthcare is advancing cancer treatment through the Aster International Institute of Oncology, supported by the IOeRT treatment at Aster Whitefield, Bangalore, and the CAR-T cell therapy at Aster Medcity, Kochi. These initiatives align with Aster DM Healthcare’s commitment to providing accessible healthcare in India, utilising technology to enhance health outcomes through precision medicine, connected care, and AI.