New Delhi, September 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja assumed charge as the 47th Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) on Tuesday, taking over at a time when the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) is undergoing significant transformation in military healthcare.
As DGAFMS, Air Marshal Thareja will oversee comprehensive medical support for the Defence Forces. The Ministry of Defence said his tenure would focus on operational medical preparedness, greater jointness, modernisation of military healthcare, digital health, medical research and innovation, human-resource development, and quality healthcare for serving personnel, veterans and their dependents.
An alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, Air Marshal Thareja was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1986. A physician and gastroenterologist, he holds an MD in Medicine from Delhi and a DM in Gastroenterology from AIIMS, New Delhi.
During a career spanning nearly four decades, he has held a wide range of clinical, academic, operational and administrative appointments. His key assignments include Commandant of 167 Military Hospital, Brigadier In-Charge Administration and Commander Troops at Base Hospital Delhi Cantonment, and Commandant of Command Hospital, Central Command.
The Ministry of Defence said his tenure at Base Hospital Delhi Cantonment during the COVID-19 pandemic involved managing complex and rapidly evolving healthcare and administrative challenges. While commanding Command Hospital, Lucknow, he oversaw the preparation of the Detailed Project Report for a new Command Hospital in record time.
As Director and Commandant of AFMC Pune, he led initiatives aimed at strengthening medical education and research. As DGMS (Air), he provided impetus to the Gaganyaan Mission and played a leading role in analogue experiments for astronaut selection and training.
The Ministry also highlighted his stewardship of the BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri) cubes. The units were gifted to the Maldives by the Prime Minister and, under humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts, to Jamaica, Cuba, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
Before assuming charge as DGAFMS, Air Marshal Thareja laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi and paid homage to fallen soldiers.
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