UAE—Aster DM Healthcare, the largest integrated healthcare provider in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), has announced the appointment of Nalla Karunanithy as the new CEO of its Digital Health & E-Commerce division.
This strategic move follows Mohamed Alshamari’s recent appointment as the Chief Executive Officer of Aster Hospitals and Clinics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Karunanithy’s appointment aligns with Aster DM Healthcare’s ongoing efforts to enhance its digital health initiatives and expand the myAster platform across GCC markets, extending beyond the UAE.
As part of Aster DM Healthcare’s broader ambitions in digital health, Karunanithy will play a pivotal role in steering the next phase of growth.
With 15 years of experience in digital and technology leadership, he has successfully driven digital transformations in retail, banking, and real estate across the Middle East.
Karunanithy has a proven track record of innovation, having launched the region’s first unmanned grocery store and autonomous warehouses.
In his new position, he will spearhead Aster’s digital roadmap, focusing on innovation and expanding the group’s digital capabilities.
Alisha Moopen, Managing Director and Group CEO of Aster DM Healthcare emphasized that digital transformation is essential for the future of healthcare in the Middle East.
She noted that myAster’s impressive growth, which has already impacted over 4 million lives, illustrates this point.
Moopen further stated that by harnessing the power of data and digital innovation, Aster DM Healthcare is setting new industry standards for convenience, quality, and care.
She believes that Karunanithy’s expertise and leadership will elevate the digital health division as the company progresses with its growth plans in the region.
Commenting on his new role, Karunanithy expressed enthusiasm for joining Aster DM Healthcare at such a crucial time for digital transformation in healthcare.
He highlighted the remarkable strides myAster has made in delivering superior personalized healthcare solutions in a relatively short period.
He aims to drive further innovation by integrating AI and data analytics to create seamless, patient-centric digital experiences.
Karunanithy envisions making healthcare more accessible, predictive, and personalized across the region.
As a leader in the digital healthcare revolution in the region, myAster has proven successful in delivering personalized healthcare solutions, significantly boosting user engagement and reflecting the UAE’s growing acceptance of digital health services.
In the fiscal year 2024, myAster experienced remarkable growth, achieving over 6.2 million total downloads.
The platform also reported a surge in monthly active users, underscoring a significant shift towards digital healthcare as individuals increasingly turn to technology to manage their health.
This expansion has established myAster as the top healthcare super-app in the GCC, impacting over 4.37 million lives.
The platform provides access to five Aster hospitals, more than 650 doctors, 58 clinics, and 270 pharmacies in the UAE.
As a result, appointment bookings through myAster reached 500,000, while pharmacy orders soared to over 650,000.
Moreover, myAster has improved user convenience by drastically reducing the waiting time for a general physical examination from 30–45 minutes to just 5–10 minutes.
Through the myAster platform, Aster DM Healthcare transforms how people access and experience medical services.
The app focuses on creating seamless, patient-centric solutions that empower individuals to proactively manage their health while bridging the gap between physical and digital care.
To meet rising demand, myAster has introduced new features to enhance user experience and streamline healthcare management.
Among the latest updates is the Health Profile feature, which allows users to monitor key health parameters such as blood pressure, body measurements, glucose levels, and risk factors like smoking, diabetes, and hypertension.
Additionally, the recently launched “Lab on App” feature consolidates access to prescriptions, lab reports, and radiology reports in one convenient location.
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