DD Correspondent
NEW DELHI: The Government has appointed Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, SM, VSM & Bar, presently serving as Director General Medical Services (Air), as the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) with effect from the afternoon of August 31, 2026. He will assume charge following the retirement of incumbent DGAFMS Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, PVSM, AVSM, VSM.
An alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, Air Marshal 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 accomplished military professional, he secured an ‘A’ grading in all military courses and is also an alumnus of the National Defence College.
Over a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades, Air Marshal Thareja has made significant contributions across the clinical, academic, operational and administrative domains of the Armed Forces Medical Services (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 and Commandant of AFMC, Pune, and Director General Medical Services (Air).
As Director General Medical Services (Air), Air Marshal Thareja has spearheaded several transformational initiatives to enhance operational medical preparedness. His efforts strengthened the AFMS’s medical preparedness for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission and contributed to 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 Thareja has guided numerous postgraduate and super-speciality students and authored more than 50 scientific papers 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 & Bar).
