With a Rs 500-crore investment in Breach Candy Hospital, one of Mumbai’s most prestigious multispecialty medical facilities, the Tata Group plans to increase its footprint in the healthcare industry. With this action, the USD165 billion conglomerate will be positioned as the hospital’s biggest source of funding, allowing it to add three seats to the current 14-member board of trustees.
As part of this transition, Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran will succeed veteran banker Deepak Parekh as chairman of the Breach Candy Hospital Trust from October 1, 2025. While the hospital will retain its name, the Tata brand will be incorporated in some capacity, potentially as “Breach Candy, a Tata Sons associate.” The investment will support major infrastructure upgrades and technological advancements at the 275-bed facility, long favoured by Mumbai’s affluent elite.
Uday Kilachand, Managing Trustee of Breach Candy, emphasised Ratan Tata’s historical connection to the hospital, pointing out that Tata Sons’ direct engagement has codified what was previously an informal link. After the establishment of an animal hospital in Mahalaxmi last year and the Tata Memorial Centre in Parel, which is well-known for cancer research and treatment, this is the third healthcare project in Mumbai by the Tata Group.
Founded in 1946 by the European Hospital Trust with financial backing from multinational corporations like Unilever, Forbes, and Crompton Greaves, Breach Candy Hospital initially operated as a 25-bed nursing home. British architect Claude Batley designed the facility, which later transitioned to the Breach Candy Hospital Trust under the Indian Trusts Act and Section 8 of the Companies Act.
Over the years, the hospital has treated well-known people, giving it a colourful past. Here, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had knee surgery, and Amitabh Bachchan was hospitalised in 1982 after a potentially fatal accident while Coolie was being filmed. Additionally, Dhirubhai Ambani, the founder of the Reliance Group, died there in 2002 following a stroke. Ratan Tata, the former chairman of the Tata Group, died in Breach Candy in October 2024 from age-related illnesses.
Despite his personal connection with the hospital, Ratan Tata’s contributions to Breach Candy had previously been informal, providing financial aid through Tata Trusts for medical equipment and infrastructure development. With Tata Sons now officially backing the hospital, this partnership is set to bring significant advancements in medical facilities and patient care.
Even when Chandrasekaran becomes chairman, Deepak Parekh will continue to serve as a trustee. Other prominent trustees include Mehli Mistry of the M Pallonji Group, Rajashree Birla (mother of Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Birla), Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, and Jamshyd Godrej, Chairman of Godrej & Boyce. Pallon Mistry of Shapoorji Pallonji Group and S Ramadorai, the former CEO of TCS, are also independent board members; nevertheless, they will not be considered representatives of the Tata Group.
Breach Candy CEO Anirudh Kohli stated that the Tata investment will fund infrastructure enhancements, including advanced medical equipment and technology upgrades. The hospital, currently spread across three buildings, also plans to construct an additional tower to expand capacity.
The Tata Group’s action comes as the Adani Group aims to build a 1,000-bed hospital and medical college in Kandivli, marking their entry into Mumbai’s healthcare industry. With this investment, Tata joins other industrial titans that are becoming more and more involved in Mumbai’s healthcare sector, including Reliance, Hinduja, Birla, and Raheja.
As healthcare infrastructure in Mumbai continues to evolve, Tata’s formalised association with Breach Candy Hospital marks a significant milestone, ensuring world-class medical advancements while preserving the institution’s rich legacy.
Source: The Times Of India
