Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja Named Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services
The Government of India has officially appointed Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, SM, VSM & Bar, as the new Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), marking a significant milestone in his nearly 40-year career in military medicine, healthcare leadership, and defence management. Currently serving as Director General Medical Services (Air), Thareja will ascend to the highest military medical position after directing numerous key Armed Forces medical institutions and commanding important military hospitals across the nation.
Air Marshal Thareja commenced his role as Director General Medical Services (Air) on 10 February 2025, bringing with him a wealth of expertise in clinical medicine, hospital management, and strategic healthcare policy. A graduate of the esteemed Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, he joined the Army Medical Corps on 30 December 1986.
An accomplished physician and specialist, Thareja completed his postgraduate studies in Internal Medicine at the University of Delhi in 1997, followed by a Doctorate of Medicine (DM) in Gastroenterology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, in 2005. Furthering his interest in strategic and defence studies, he obtained an M.Phil. in Defence Strategic Studies from the National Defence College (NDC) in 2018, enhancing his proficiency in military leadership and national security.
In the early stages of his career, Thareja served as a Regimental Medical Officer (RMO) with 9 Rajput for four years, acquiring significant operational experience while supporting troops in High Altitude Areas (HAA) and Counter-Insurgency (CI) operations across three different command regions. This experience laid the groundwork for a career that merged frontline medical support with advanced clinical proficiency.
He went on to serve as a medical specialist at Military Hospital Jodhpur, participated in the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, and later worked at Military Hospital Ranikhet before specializing in gastroenterology. Over time, Thareja became one of the foremost gastroenterologists within the Armed Forces, working in several super-speciality military hospitals.
His notable clinical career includes roles as Head of the Department of Gastroenterology at Base Hospital Delhi Cantonment, Command Hospital (Western Command), and Army Hospital (Research and Referral), New Delhi—the top tertiary care medical facility of the Armed Forces. In these positions, he significantly contributed to enhancing specialized healthcare services for military personnel, veterans, and their families.
Apart from clinical duties, Thareja has occupied several critical command and administrative positions. He led Military Hospital Pathankot, served as Commandant of Command Hospital Lucknow, and was later appointed as the Director and Commandant of the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. Under his leadership, AFMC upheld its reputation as a premier institution for military medical education, research, and training in India.
He has also occupied essential staff roles, including Senior Consultant (Medicine) at the DGAFMS office and Brigadier In-Charge Administration and Commander Troops at Base Hospital Delhi Cantonment. Additionally, he serves as the Commodore Commandant of the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), which plays a crucial role in aerospace medicine, aviation physiology, and medical support for the Indian Armed Forces' aviation sector.
Throughout his career, Air Marshal Thareja has been acknowledged for his exceptional professional skills and distinguished service. He received the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2011, the Sena Medal (SM) in 2022, and a Bar to the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2024, highlighting his consistent excellence in military healthcare, leadership, and administration.
As he takes on the role of Director General Armed Forces Medical Services, Thareja will oversee the integrated medical services of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, managing one of the nation's largest and most sophisticated military healthcare systems. The DGAFMS is tasked with medical policy, operational healthcare, hospital management, medical education, research, preventive medicine, and overseeing the health welfare of military personnel, veterans, and their families.
His appointment coincides with a period of modernization within the Armed Forces Medical Services, which includes upgrading healthcare infrastructure, expanding digital health initiatives, enhancing battlefield medical capabilities, and integrating advanced medical technologies for future military operations.
With his exceptional blend of operational experience, clinical expertise, academic achievements, and institutional leadership, Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja is well-equipped to lead the Armed Forces Medical Services into a new era of transformation, reinforcing military healthcare while ensuring top-tier medical support for India's defence forces.
