Aster DM Healthcare celebrates opening of hundredth pharmacy in the UAE

• The hundredth Aster Pharmacy in the UAE, opened at Dubai Healthcare City, is located at Al Razi Building.
• Aster Pharmacy, the largest retail pharmacy network in the region, achieves this significant milestone offering better value to customers and providing standardized patient care.

DUBAI- April 02, 2014: Aster DM Healthcare, the leading healthcare conglomerate in the Middle East and India, has unveiled its hundredth pharmacy outlet in Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, marking a significant milestone in the Group’s health services of more than 25 years.

Mr. Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, Vice-Chairman of DP World, inaugurated the hundredth Aster Pharmacy unit, located at Al Razi Building in DHCC, in the presence of Mr. Marwan Abedin, CEO- DHCC, and other senior officials of Aster DM Healthcare.

ASTER Pharmacy opened its first store in 1989. As the years went by, more and more outlets kept getting added and the network evolved to its existing size. With the launch of the hundredth pharmacy outlet, Aster DM Healthcare continues to strengthen its position as the region’s largest retail pharmacy chain.

Aster DM Healthcare is one of the largest growing healthcare networks in the Middle East and India operating more than 175 units including hospitals, medical centres, pharmacies, advanced diagnostic centres, in addition to rolling out constant social welfare initiatives under its purview. The healthcare conglomerate has grown exponentially over the years since its establishment in 1987.

Commenting on the launch of the hundredth Aster Pharmacy, Dr. Azad Moopen- Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare, said, “We’re delighted and proud to have met this important milestone with the launch of the hundredth pharmacy. This is a momentous occasion for us as the largest integrated healthcare service provider in the Middle East region and beyond. We are indebted to the visionary Rulers and people of the UAE for their undeterred support and encouragement that made this achievement possible.”

“We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all our customers and business associates, who stood by and supported us along this illustrious journey of more than 25 years in healthcare services. We dedicate this achievement to the gracious nation of the UAE, as all of us from the Aster Pharmacy and Aster DM Healthcare family celebrate this important milestone,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jobilal V, Asst. Vice President & CEO- ASTER Pharmacy Division, said: “The hundredth pharmacy marks a significant milestone of the services provided by Aster DM Healthcare. Being the leading pharmacy network in the region, ASTER reaffirms its aim to being accessible across every neighbourhood in the UAE. It is our constant strategy to offer the best to our customers, be it the quality of service or the seamless network of accessibility across the region. The functional model of Aster Pharmacy is a vision turned into reality, and the division is one of the largest employers in the retail pharmacy sector of the region.”

“Aster is the first pharmacy network to introduce a uniform identity, not just in the look, but in actual brand experience, Aster Pharmacies stock a wide variety of curative, nutritional and baby care products systematically displayed for allowing over the counter service. Innovative and value added services like ‘Any Time Medical Services’ (ATMs) to deliver products, regular updates on healthcare, information on offers, schemes and promotions by emails or on your mobiles, ensure Aster Pharmacies offer much more than medicines,” he added.

Mrs. Alisha Moopen, Director- Corporate Strategies, Aster DM Healthcare, said, “Opening of the hundredth outlet further consolidates ASTER Pharmacy’s position as the largest chain of pharmacies in the region. We have followed a prudent growth strategy as we pioneered the region’s retail pharmacy chain in the face of several challenges. Opening of the hundredth pharmacy outlet provides the potential for opening as many as 300 pharmacies by the year 2017, offering better value to customers and providing standardized patient care.”

Built on more than two decades of experience in pharmaceutical retailing, Aster Pharmacies are designed to be a one-stop-shop for healthcare products, offering quality medical and allied products at the best prices in a refreshing ambience. ASTER Pharmacy division received “Best Pharmacy Award’ under the “Dubai Services Excellence Scheme (DSES)”, instituted by the Government of Dubai for two consecutive years, for its commitment to offer ‘much more than medicines’ to customers.