Surgeon Rear Admiral Rohit Sharma assumed command of Indian Naval Hospital Ship (INHS) Asvini on September 21, 2026, at a ceremonial parade held at the naval hospital in Mumbai.
The change of command marks the assumption of leadership of one of the Indian Navy’s prominent medical establishments and comes as part of the regular transition of senior leadership within the Armed Forces Medical Services.
INHS Asvini has a long history of providing medical support to Indian naval personnel and their families. The institution traces its origins to the King’s Seamen Hospital, which began functioning in the Colaba area in 1756. It was formally commissioned as INHS Asvini after being handed over to the Indian Navy on September 18, 1951.
Over the decades, the establishment expanded its medical and training capabilities. It was designated a Command Hospital in 1977 after its capacity was expanded to 825 beds, and has developed into a major tertiary-care military medical institution.
The hospital provides comprehensive medical care to serving personnel, veterans and their families, while also functioning as a referral centre for peripheral military hospitals in the region. Its medical infrastructure encompasses a range of specialised and super-speciality services.
The institution’s development has also been closely associated with military medical education and research. The Institute of Naval Medicine, established as the Naval Medical Research and Training Centre in 1964 and subsequently renamed, forms an important component of the Navy’s medical research and training ecosystem.
The assumption of command by Surgeon Rear Admiral Rohit Sharma therefore comes against the backdrop of an institution with decades of experience in military healthcare, medical training and specialised treatment.
A ceremonial parade traditionally provides a formal setting for such leadership transitions, reinforcing continuity within the organisation while marking the assumption of responsibility by the incoming commander.
INHS Asvini’s role extends beyond routine healthcare. As a major military hospital, it supports the operational effectiveness and welfare of personnel by providing advanced medical care and specialist treatment. The institution’s capabilities are particularly relevant to the broader Armed Forces Medical Services framework, which supports personnel across diverse operational and geographical environments.
The hospital’s longstanding motto, “Caring and Curing,” reflects its central mission of providing medical care while supporting the health and wellbeing of the armed forces community.
With Surgeon Rear Admiral Rohit Sharma taking command, INHS Asvini enters another phase of its institutional journey, building on its established medical capabilities and longstanding contribution to naval healthcare.
The change of command also reinforces the continuity of professional leadership within the Armed Forces Medical Services, ensuring that the hospital’s responsibilities towards serving personnel, veterans and their families remain central to its functioning.
