Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja appointed as DGAFMS with effect from August 31
New Delhi, July 31
Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, who is presently serving as the Director General Medical Services, has been appointed as the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services with effect from August 31, 2026.
He will assume the appointment upon the retirement of the incumbent DGAFMS Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, PVSM, AVSM, VSM.
An alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja was commissioned in December 1986.
He obtained his MD in Medicine in 1997 and DM in Gastroenterology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi in 2005, where he was awarded the Best DM Student Award. An outstanding military professional, he secured an 'A' grading in all military courses and is an alumnus of the National Defence College.
Over a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades, the officer has made significant contributions across the clinical, academic, operational and administrative domains of the AFMS.
He has held several prestigious appointments including Senior Consultant (Medicine) at the Office of the DGAFMS, Commandant of Military Hospital Pathankot, Commandant of Command Hospital Lucknow, Director & Commandant of AFMC, Pune, in addition to Director General Medical Services (Air).
As Director General Medical Services (Air), Air Marshal Thareja has steered several transformational initiatives to enhance operational medical preparedness.
His efforts strengthened the AFMS' medical preparedness for India's Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission and led the operationalisation of the BHISHM Cube, significantly enhancing rapid medical response capabilities for operational and humanitarian missions.
An accomplished clinician, academician and teacher, Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja has guided numerous postgraduate and super-speciality students and has authored over 50 scientific publications in reputed national and international medical journals. In recognition of his distinguished service, he has been awarded the Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal twice (VSM and VSM Bar).
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive credentials — an AFMC alumnus, DM from AIIMS with awards, nearly 40 years of service, and over 50 publications. The armed forces medical system is fortunate to have leaders of this caliber. Wishing him the very best.
Honestly, the fact that someone who began in 1986 and has worked across clinical and operational roles is now leading the entire AFMS gives me so much confidence in our military healthcare. Jai Hind, sir! 🙏
A fitting successor to Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, who also set a high standard. Air Marshal Thareja's mix of clinical excellence and administrative vision is just what we need as our forces prepare for future challenges like Gaganyaan and beyond.
All the best to Air Marshal Thareja, but I do hope we also focus on increasing the number of AFMS personnel and better infrastructure in field hospitals. Leadership is great, but we need systemic improvements at every level. Just a thought.
I read about the BHISHM Cube previously — it's an excellent innovation for rapid medical response, especially in disaster and conflict zones. It's reassuring to see that India's military medical leadership is thinking ahead like this. Congratulations, sir!
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