The diversified Hinduja group is eyeing the lucrative healthcare delivery business with a view to running it as a profitable venture.

The group is planning to set up a chain of hospitals across the country, drawing on its experience in running the five decades old PD Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre in the country’s commercial capital.

The multi disciplinary 351-bed specialty hospital is known for the quality of medical care it provides.

Rated among the top ten hospitals in the India it has a tie-up with Masschusetts General Hospital of Boston. The group is now looking at leveraging this expertise, according to sources in the Hinduja group.

However, unlike the PD Hinduja Hospital that is run by the Hinduja Foundation as a not-for-profit venture, the new chain of hospitals will be run by the group as a business, along the lines of existing hospital chains promoted by Apollo Hospitals, Wockhardt and Fortis Healthcare.

Healthcare delivery is being touted as a sector that holds a lot potential given rising Indian incomes and the growing medical tourism pie. Apollo Hospitals, which runs the country's largest privately owned hospital network, has already proved the success of medical tourism.

According to sources, the Hinduja group is also considering bringing in an overseas partner for the venture.

In addition to this, the group is also reportedly evaluating the biotech segment for a foray. “The biotech foray will most likely be through the IDL division of Gulf Oil,” the source said. Interestingly, the group's realty foray is also happening through a new division to be set up within Gulf Oil.

Recently, the group had announced plans for $1 billion realty venture fund, and also develop close to 3,500 acres of land owned by different group companies.

The land is to be developed for a knowledge park and IT park among others. The group has employed Cushman & Wakefield to advise them on developing the land.