One of Mumbai’s most iconic healthcare institutions, Jaslok Hospital, is undergoing a massive ₹300-400 crore renovation programme aimed at completely modernising the over five-decade-old facility while continuing normal operations. 

The 350-bed hospital, founded by businessman-philanthropist Lokoomal Chanrai and renowned cardiologist Dr Shantilal Mehta, was inaugurated in 1973 by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Over the years, the hospital has evolved into one of India’s best-known charitable corporate hospitals. Run as a charitable trust institution and governed by the Charity Commissioner of Bombay, the hospital is currently managed by a four-member trust chaired by Vinod P. Chanrai, nephew of founder Lokoomal Chanrai. 

Located on Mumbai’s prestigious Peddar Road, the eight-floor hospital spread across around 40,000 square feet caters to nearly 70,000 patients annually across outpatient, inpatient and executive health check-up segments. Nearly 70% of its patients come from South Mumbai. 

In an exclusive interaction with Fortune India, Vinod P. Chanrai said the ambitious renovation programme began in 2020 and has been designed as a decade-long project to avoid disrupting patient care. 

“The building was constructed over 50 years ago, and at that time, the quality and type of materials available were very different from what we have today — whether it was the type of cement, the steel bars, or other construction materials. Also, the hospital is located very close to the ocean, so the impact of nature, salt air, and humidity has had a major effect on the structure over the years,” he said. 

According to Chanrai, the management had two options: shut the hospital for three years and complete the renovation rapidly, or undertake a slower but operationally safer route. 

“The choice before us was either to shut down the hospital, complete all repairs over three years, and then reopen, or take the longer route of 10 years and continue operations simultaneously while renovating. We chose the second option,” he said. 

The renovation is being executed in phases, floor by floor, with extensive structural strengthening work involving removal of old materials, reinforcement of columns and rebuilding of internal infrastructure. “The hospital is essentially becoming a new building from the inside out,” Chanrai said. 

Hospital investing in replacing ageing diagnostic, medical equipment

Alongside civil and structural modernisation, the hospital is also investing significantly in replacing ageing diagnostic and medical equipment with newer technologies. While the promoter family has no immediate plans to expand the existing hospital because of space limitations at the South Mumbai location, Jaslok Hospital is planning to establish a new nursing college in Navi Mumbai. The hospital currently has around 400 honorary consultants and nearly an equal number of nurses. 

Chanrai said the hospital’s revenues are growing at 8-12% annually, with operational surpluses largely reinvested into upgrading healthcare infrastructure and technology. “We are at break-even, if you consider operating expenses, and my family generally steps in when there is not enough left for major capital expenditure. Of late, we are also getting CSR funding for new capex,” he said.