Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Sandeep Thareja Takes Charge as 47th Armed Forces Medical Chief
Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja is now the head of medical services for India’s Armed Forces.
He became the 47th Director General Armed Forces Medical Services on Tuesday, September 1.
His job is to help provide healthcare to military personnel, veterans and their families.
He will also work to make military medical care more prepared and modern.
This includes using digital health tools and supporting medical research.
Thareja is a doctor who specialises in medicine and gastroenterology.
He has led military hospitals, medical education programmes and work connected with the Gaganyaan Mission.
Before taking charge, he honoured soldiers who died while serving the country.
Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja assumed charge as the 47th Director General Armed Forces Medical Services on Tuesday, September 1.
He will oversee comprehensive healthcare for serving personnel, veterans and their dependents.
The Armed Forces Medical Services is focusing on preparedness, jointness, modernisation, digital health, research and innovation.
Thareja, a physician and gastroenterologist, has nearly four decades of clinical, academic, operational and administrative experience.
Before taking charge, he paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
- Who
- Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, a physician and gastroenterologist.
- What
- He assumed charge as the 47th Director General Armed Forces Medical Services.
- When
- Tuesday, September 1; the articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- The appointment concerns the Armed Forces Medical Services in India; Thareja paid tribute at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
- Why
- He will oversee healthcare for serving personnel, veterans and their dependents while advancing medical preparedness, modernisation, digital health, research and innovation.
- New position
- 47th Director General Armed Forces Medical Services
- Commissioned
- Army Medical Corps, December 1986
- Medical qualifications
- MD in Medicine from Delhi and DM in Gastroenterology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
- Career experience
- Nearly four decades of clinical, academic, operational and administrative service
- Key priorities
- Operational medical preparedness, jointness, modernisation, digital health, research, innovation and human-resource development
- Humanitarian initiatives
- BHISHM medical cubes were gifted to the Maldives and deployed for assistance in Jamaica, Cuba, Sri Lanka and Myanmar
- Pre-assumption tribute
- Wreath-laying at the National War Memorial in New Delhi
