Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja assumed the appointment of the 47th Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) on 1 September 2026, taking charge of the apex position responsible for overseeing comprehensive medical support to the Defence Forces.
Prior to assuming the appointment, Air Marshal Thareja laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi and paid solemn homage to the fallen heroes who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the nation.
As DGAFMS, Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja will oversee the delivery of medical support across the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS). His tenure comes at a significant phase of transformation within the AFMS, with continued emphasis on operational medical preparedness, greater jointness among the three Services, modernisation of military healthcare, digital health initiatives, medical research and innovation, human-resource development and high-quality healthcare for serving personnel, veterans and their dependants.
An alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, Air Marshal Thareja was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in December 1986. A distinguished physician and gastroenterologist, he completed his MD in Medicine from Delhi and DM in Gastroenterology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
During a career spanning nearly four decades, Air Marshal Thareja has held a wide range of clinical, academic, operational and administrative appointments. His important assignments have included Commandant, 167 Military Hospital; Brigadier In-Charge Administration and Commander Troops, Base Hospital Delhi Cantt; and Commandant, Command Hospital (Central Command).
His tenure at Base Hospital Delhi Cantt during the COVID-19 pandemic involved managing complex and rapidly evolving healthcare and administrative challenges. During his tenure as Commandant of Command Hospital, Lucknow, the Detailed Project Report for a new Command Hospital was prepared in record time, supporting the long-term expansion of military healthcare infrastructure.
As Director and Commandant of AFMC Pune, Air Marshal Thareja spearheaded several initiatives aimed at strengthening medical education and research. His leadership at the premier Armed Forces medical institution focused on advancing professional education, research capabilities and the development of future medical professionals for the Armed Forces.
As DGMS (Air), Air Marshal Thareja provided significant impetus to the medical dimensions of the Gaganyaan Mission and played a leading role in Analog experiments related to astronaut selection and training. These initiatives contributed to strengthening India’s human spaceflight preparedness from the medical and physiological perspective.
His tenure also saw the expansion of India’s humanitarian medical outreach. BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) cubes were gifted to the Maldives by the Prime Minister, while the capability was also utilised for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support to countries including Jamaica, Cuba, Sri Lanka and Myanmar under his stewardship.
The diverse responsibilities undertaken by Air Marshal Thareja reflect the expanding role of the AFMS beyond conventional military healthcare, encompassing operational medicine, advanced medical research, space medicine, disaster response, medical education and international humanitarian assistance.
His appointment as DGAFMS comes as the Armed Forces continue to strengthen medical preparedness for contemporary and future operational environments. The focus on technology-enabled healthcare, innovation, research and integrated medical support is expected to remain central to the AFMS’s efforts to provide resilient and responsive healthcare capabilities.
With Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja assuming charge as the 47th DGAFMS, the AFMS enters a new phase of leadership focused on operational readiness, modernisation and medical excellence while continuing its commitment to serving personnel, veterans and their families.
