Inclusion of an Indian healthcare pioneer in Board of Global Network

India May hope for a Strong Safety Net against Viral Diseases

New Delhi, January 9: In the midst of news about spreading of scary swine flu viral fever in Delhi, there is good news.

With inclusion of Indian healthcare pioneer, Padma awardee Dr. Azad Moopen in the Board of Directors of Global Viral Network (GVN), the country may hope for a strong safety net against viral diseases, known and unknown as well, in times to come.

The Global Virus Network (GVN), a coalition of the world’s leading virus researchers working together to prevent illness and death from viral diseases, announced on January 8 election of Indian physician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist DR. Moopen to  its crucial Board of Directors.

In a communication to meditoall editor in chief Dhananjay Kumar from Dubai, Dr. Moopen said, ‘It is an honor and privilege to join the GVN Board of Directors at this pivotal point in time. Collaboration among the public and private sectors is essential as we work as a global community to stem the spread of deadly diseases. I look forward to working with the Board and the GVN Centers of Excellence to stop viral diseases in their tracks.’

Dr. Azad Moopen is the Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare, a healthcare conglomerate in the Middle East and India, headquartered in Dubai with more than 200 network units inclusive of Hospitals, Medical Centers, Pharmacies, Diagnostics and Specialty Centers, Healthcare Consultancy service, Academics & Research to a medical college and an advanced Medical city. A Physician-turned entrepreneur and philanthropist from the South Indian state of Kerala, he holds an MBBS and a Post Graduate in General Medicine from Calicut Government Medical College in Kerala, and a Diploma in Chest Diseases from Delhi University, India.

Dr. Moopen is a Padma Shree, who just after getting this honor had announced giving 20 percent of his wealth for the poor patients of India in thanksgiving ceremony in Delhi. Thereafter, his health conglomerate DM healthcare has initiated number philanthropic healthcare programs in India.

GVN in its communiqué has called Dr. Moopen an innovation and expressed great hope that his insights will help GVN expand its global reach, particularly in India, and help us achieve our goal of establishing a worldwide safety net against viral disease—including those that are known and those that are yet-to-be-discovered.

The announcement was made by Mr. N. Scott Fine, Chairman of the GVN Board of Directors, joined by Robert C. Gallo, MD, GVN Co-Founder and Director of the GVN Center of Excellence at the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine; William Hall, MD, PhD, GVN Co-Founder and Director of the GVN Center of Excellence at the University College Dublin; and GVN President Sharon Hrynkow, PhD.

Joining GVN as a Senior Advisor is MV Pillai, MD, Professor of Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia and Chairman of Oncology at Aster MedCity, among his other leadership roles.