Aster DM Healthcare plans to significantly expand its presence in India with an investment of ₹2,300 crore over the next three years, as it sharpens focus on its fastest-growing market following the separation of its GCC operations.
Founder and Chairman Azad Moopen said the demerger has enabled more focused capital deployment, quicker decision-making, and a clearer growth strategy. He noted that India has emerged as the company’s largest growth engine, prompting aggressive expansion, particularly in underserved regions.
The India-listed healthcare provider intends to add 2,368 beds through a combination of greenfield projects and selective acquisitions, expanding beyond its traditional strongholds of Kerala and Karnataka. Around ₹350 crore has already been invested in key projects as of September last year. The company will also assess strategic fundraising options after completing its merger with Quality Care India to support its growth ambitions and enhance shareholder value.
Currently operating over 918 facilities including hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and diagnostic centres across seven countries, Aster is set to widen its domestic footprint through its proposed merger with Blackstone-backed QCIL, which owns KIMS Health and CARE Hospitals. The combined entity, to be branded Aster Quality Care, will bring together four healthcare brands Aster DM, CARE Hospitals, KIMS, and Evercare positioning it among India’s top three hospital chains by revenue and bed capacity.
The merged platform aims to expand capacity from 10,265 beds to around 14,710 beds in the coming years. Major additions include two new hospitals in Bengaluru (430 and 500 beds), expansions at Aster CMI Hospital and Aster Whitefield, a 454-bed facility in Thiruvananthapuram, and a 100-bed expansion at Aster Medcity in Kochi. The merger will also facilitate entry into new states such as Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, Aster’s GCC business managed by the Moopen family with strategic backing from Fajr Capital is pursuing ambitious regional growth. With operations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain, the company is evaluating potential listings in the UAE and Saudi Arabia as part of its long-term expansion strategy. It plans to invest around $250 million in Saudi Arabia over the next two to three years, focusing on hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, while also strengthening digital healthcare delivery across key GCC markets.
