In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Kerala, Dr. Azad Moopen has pledged full tuition scholarships to academically gifted yet financially challenged students pursuing MBBS, Nursing, and Pharmacy education in private institutions.
Kochi:
In a landmark move in Kerala’s private education sector, Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare and Managing Trustee of the Dr. Moopen’s Education and Research Foundation (DMERF), has announced the launch of the Moopen’s Legacy Scholarships and Fellowships Program. This initiative will offer full tuition fee waivers to 25 academically outstanding students enrolling in MBBS, B.Sc. Nursing, and B.Pharm courses at Dr. Moopen’s Medical College, Nursing College, and College of Pharmacy in Wayanad. The announcement was made during a press conference attended by senior leadership of Aster DM Healthcare and the DMERF Trust.
The scholarship program is a first for any private medical institution in Kerala to provide 100% tuition fee exemptions purely based on merit and eligibility. Five MBBS students will be selected entirely based on NEET rank and academic excellence, while ten each from the B.Sc. Nursing and B.Pharm streams will be chosen based on both merit and financial background. The scholarship will cover the full duration of the program for students who continue to meet academic performance criteria and comply with program guidelines. Over the next five years, a total of 125 students are expected to benefit from the program, with an annual allocation of more than ₹3 crore by the foundation.
Dr. Azad Moopen emphasized that this initiative is driven by his vision of equitable access to quality medical education. “I have personally come across numerous talented students who had to give up their dreams of becoming doctors, nurses, or pharmacists simply because they lacked financial resources. In a vital sector like healthcare, such barriers should not exist,” said Dr. Moopen. He added that this scholarship not only supports individual students but also aims to uplift their families and create a new generation of compassionate healthcare professionals who will serve underserved communities.
Applications for the scholarship will open from July 28, 2025, and interested candidates can apply online through the official website. The program was jointly announced by Alisha Moopen (Deputy Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare India), Anoop Moopen (Director, Aster DM Healthcare), U. Basheer (Executive Trustee, Aster MIMS), T.J. Wilson (Executive Director & Group Head – Governance and Corporate Affairs), and Dr. Shanavas Palliyal (Deputy General Manager – Operations, Dr. Moopen’s Medical College). The scholarship program is a testament to Aster DM Healthcare’s continued commitment to inclusive healthcare and education, underpinned by the philanthropic legacy of its founder.
