Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2026 Fifth Edition to Be Held in Kochi; Prize Money of Rs. 2.5 Crore

Kochi: Grand Hyatt Kochi will host the fifth edition of the prestigious Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award on September 12, 2026. Following successful editions in Dubai, London and Bengaluru, the globally acclaimed nursing award is being held in Kerala for the first time. More than 1,34,000 nurses from 214 countries applied for the award. At the ceremony, which will be attended by prominent personalities including Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Health Minister K. Muralidharan and Ministers P.K. Kunhalikutty and Roji M. John, the winner will be selected from among the 10 finalists and will receive a prize of US$250,000, equivalent to approximately Rs. 2.5 crore. Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder and Executive Chairman of Aster DM Quality Care Limited, and Alisha Moopen, Managing Director and CEO of Aster GCC, said the award aims to recognise and honour exceptional service and humanitarian values demonstrated by nurses across the world. Varun Khanna, Managing Director and Group CEO of Aster DM Quality Care Limited, and T.J. Wilson, Executive Director of Aster DM Quality Care Limited, will also attend the ceremony. The finalists were selected through a transparent selection process, with Ernst & Young LLP serving as the Process Advisor.