When he first set up his clinic, Dr Moopen dedicated at least one day a week to treating patients from socio-economically disadvantaged groups. This dedication has always been Aster’s mantra and as Aster has grown over the years, its social commitment has expanded beyond its geographic reach, says Dr Nitish Shetty, CEO, Aster DM Healthcare, India, in an interview with Dr Asawari Savant of Elets News Network (ENN). Excerpts:
Aster DM Healthcare’s motto is, “Empowering Lives through Compassionate Leadership.” As a visionary leader, can you share your perspective on the role of compassionate leadership in shaping the future of healthcare?
Prioritizing patient-centered care, staff well-being and ethical management are the foundations for building a successful healthcare organization. This involves cultivating a culture of empathy, understanding and support from all stakeholders including patients, staff and industry. As advocates of compassionate leadership, Aster instills its values in over 30,000 Asterians, instilling trust and building an inclusive work culture driven by empathy and a strong commitment to listening and learning, improving the health and well-being of all. In a nutshell, compassionate leadership significantly improves the quality of care and creates a positive and supportive healthcare environment for both patients and healthcare professionals.
Is the intersection of philanthropy and healthcare a driving force in your efforts to increase access to quality healthcare at an affordable price? What role does social responsibility play in the growth of your organization and how do you see profit as a by-product of the services you provide?
“Giving back to society” has been Aster’s philosophy since its inception. Our Chairman, Dr. Azad Moopen, has always believed in giving back to society. At the time of setting up his first clinic, Dr. Moopen used to spare at least one day a week to treat patients from socio-economically underprivileged groups. This commitment has remained Aster’s mantra and with Aster’s growth over the years, its social commitment has expanded beyond its geographical reach.
One such global initiative is Aster Volunteers. Founded in 2019, this global volunteer group has now grown to over 530,000 volunteers from different countries, impacting the lives of over 4 million people through various CSR initiatives. The Aster Volunteers program does socially beneficial initiatives such as running medical buses and medical camps and providing Basic Life Support (BLS) training. The group has also worked to build over 250 Aster Homes in Kerala for those who lost their homes in the 2018 Kerala floods. Other initiatives include “Second Chance,” which helps underprivileged children who need liver transplants.
Now, Aster has identified the goals that are relevant to its business from the 17 global SDG goals and started working towards achieving them. Aster has integrated 11 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) into its ESG policy, including good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, affordable and green energy, clean water and sanitation, decent work and economic growth, industrial innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, climate action, sustainable consumption and production, and partnership for the goals.
Aster has developed a sustainability strategy based on four pillars – Environmental, Social, Governance and Economic (ESG) – to ensure a sustained reputation, resilience to economic, social and environmental changes, optimal and better utilisation of scarce resources and enhanced community services.
Philanthropy and healthcare drive our commitment to providing quality healthcare at affordable prices. Healthcare and education are noble professions and carry a higher level of social responsibility. At Aster, profits are a by-product of our good deeds while we strive to contribute to the society.
With a vast network of facilities across seven countries, what inspired your entrepreneurial spirit and ability to spot emerging trends in the healthcare sector? Can you share with us some of the key moments and decisions that played a pivotal role in transforming Aster DM Healthcare into a healthcare empire?
For Dr. Moopen, his foray into healthcare was driven by a single purpose – to serve and alleviate the suffering faced by the common man. In just two decades in India, Aster DM Healthcare has today become one of the leading players in the Indian healthcare market. This has only been possible due to the vision of our Chairman, who has been directly involved in the growth of our India operations. Two of our flagship hospitals, less than a decade old, are today ranked among the top multi-specialty hospitals in India. In fact, Aster Medcity was recently ranked #1 among the Best Emerging Multi-specialty Hospitals by The Week Hansa Research 2023 and #49 among the Best Cardiology Hospitals in the World by global media house Newsweek.
Today, most Aster hospitals, especially Aster Medcity in Kochi and Aster CMI in Bangalore, are state-of-the-art hospitals that can handle complex cases.Our hospitals do not function as independent units, rather, doctors interact with each other from different geographical locations and collaborate to resolve most cases.
Our Chairman has been keen to integrate technology to provide healthcare professionals with the latest equipment that helps in improving patient outcomes. Our latest endeavour is in the field of AI, where our Neuroscience team at the AI lab set up in one of our units in partnership with Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed AI Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). The use of this technology will revolutionise neuro-hyperdiagnosis.
With over 896 facilities, how do the brands Aster, Access and Medcare contribute towards providing a comprehensive circle of care to various segments of society?
Under three distinct brands, we aimed to reach all economic strata in the GCC countries through differentiated healthcare services: Access targets the lower-income segment of society, Aster provides healthcare services to the middle-income segment and Medcare targets the higher-income segments.
Further, Aster DM Healthcare is one of the very few healthcare companies in the world that is truly recognised as an ‘Integrated Healthcare Company’. Our goal to serve patients better was to take a 360-degree approach to healthcare and touch every aspect of their health. And that’s how we’ve done it. With hospitals, clinics, laboratories and pharmacies, we provide comprehensive care to patients. And with our latest super app MyAster, you have access to all Aster’s services at your fingertips. The app has already witnessed huge downloads in the GCC market and will soon be launched in India too.
How has your organization navigated the challenges of delivering care across borders, and what lessons have you learned from this extensive journey?
At Aster, our guiding principle, “We Treat You with Care,” shapes our practice and actions towards our employees, patients and the broader communities in which we operate. It starts with adopting an empathetic approach that truly listens to our stakeholders’ challenges, which allows us to find innovative opportunities to create value in the lives of the people we touch. Aster has diversified, integrating digital technology, innovation and research to build a sustainable business model for our employees and patients.
Some of the ways Aster binds itself are:
Innovation and Research: Partnering with international companies, mobilizing startups and researchers through the Aster Innovation and Research Center, and advancing efforts using digital health technologies through the Aster Center of Digital Health Excellence. Telehealth and Technology Integration: Leveraging telehealth and medical technologies to facilitate healthcare delivery across borders. Aster was one of the first companies to launch e-consultations for patients across regions during the pandemic. It also launched an e-ICU to monitor patients at home. Digitalization: Aster Connect, powered by Oracle Cloud HCM, connected employees across seven countries and established an engaging system for over 30,000 employees on a single platform.
Our goal is to promote our brand promise of “We Treat You with Care” across our network of hospitals, laboratories and pharmacies alike. A key aspect of our communications is encouraging ambassadorship by spotlighting employees and patients who want to share their experiences.
Your company has invested in healthcare organizations to address critical need gaps in healthcare workforces. Can you tell us more about your company’s efforts to shape the future of healthcare through education? How do these investments contribute to ensuring a sustainable, skilled healthcare workforce for the future?
Dr. Moopen Academy was established almost a decade ago with an objective to develop a best-in-class academic and clinical infrastructure with a talented faculty and administrative team. The college continues to produce a large number of excellent doctors every year. The college adopts global standards in education, research and innovation and aims to be one of India’s leading medical institutions nurturing medical professionals who can contribute to the world with compassion and dedication.
The reason for choosing Wayanad for a medical college is an interesting one. Though known as a tourist destination, the district lacked proper medical facilities; locals had to travel far to get advanced medical care. Dr. Moopen Academy was established with an objective to provide quality medical education, training and healthcare at an affordable cost, thereby improving the medical infrastructure and the overall development of the region.
Aster is committed to healthcare and education plays a key role. We believe that investing in a skilled healthcare workforce is necessary for a sustainable future in the sector.
Based on your own journey and experience in healthcare entrepreneurship, what advice would you give to aspiring healthcare leaders and entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurship is a journey of learning and growth, challenging and rewarding at the same time. Entrepreneurship allows us to experiment, learn and evolve. But in a healthcare environment, mistakes can have serious consequences. The risks are high and precision and certainty are required. The path from a healthcare professional to an entrepreneur is as much about personal transformation as it is about professional development. It is a path that requires courage, resilience and a mindset that can adapt to a changing environment.
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