Director General Medical Services (Navy)

SURGEON VICE ADMIRAL AC ANAND, VSM

Surgeon Vice Admiral Anil Chandra Anand, VSM (076156-F), the Director General Medical Services (Navy), was born on 03 March 1953 and schooled in Chandigarh, Ferozpur, Barielly and Kanpur. He acquired the MBBS degree in 1974 from the prestigious King George Medical College, Lucknow, obtaining a distinction in Medicine. He was ranked first in Lucknow University, and was consequently awarded the coveted Hewette Gold Medal.

He was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps on 30 Nov 1975, and during a distinguished career spanning 36 years, has earned several honours. His outstanding contribution in the field of medical research has resulted in many coveted awards, notable among which are the Chief of the Naval Staff Award for the best published research paper being bestowed twice, in 2003 and 2006, the Air Marshal Ajitnath Gurshantidevi Award in 1990, the Lt Gen R S Hoon Award in 2001, Major General Amir Chand Award in 1998, Dr M B Soparkar Award in 1998, and many others. Besides these academic and research awards, he has also been awarded the Gen A K Deb Challenge Trophy for being Best Officer as a result of standing first in the Medical Officers’ Senior Command Course as well as the Col Rangaraj Trophy in 1981 for standing first in the Medical Officers’ Junior Command Course at AMC Centre & School, Lucknow.

Surgeon Vice Admiral A C Anand is a hepato-gastroenterologist of national repute. He obtained his doctorate in Gastroenterology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, following which he underwent special training in Liver Transplantation at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham (UK) and Mayo Clinic, Rochester (USA). He was instrumental in establishing the Liver Transplant Centre at Army Hospital (Research & Referral), and in building up a dedicated team handling this sophisticated medical procedure. This programme continues to remain the only successful donor transplant programme in any public sector hospital in India. He has also brought up Gastroenterology Centres at Command Hospital, Kolkata and Command Hospital, Chandimandir. His efforts led to the modernisation of the existing centre at Army Hospital (R & R).

He has over 250 scientific publications in peer reviewed journals of National and International repute such as The Lancet, American Journal of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Transplantation; Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology; Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology; European Journal of Gastroenterology amongst others. His sterling contributions to medical research received recognition with the award of Fellowships of Indian College of Physicians, American College of Physicians, American College of Gastroenterology and National Academy of Medical sciences.

Surgeon Vice Admiral AC Anand has held many prestigious appointments, including that of Professor & Head of the Department of Medicine at AFMC, Pune. He has commanded the largest hospital of the Armed Forces, Command Hospital (Southern Command), Pune with distinction. Prior to taking over the reins of the Medical services of the Indian Navy, he held the appointment of Director General (Org & Pers) in the O/o the DGAFMS.

The Flag Officer is ably supported on the home front by his wife, Dr Mrunalini Anand, who is a pathologist. They have two children, son Apurv is an alumnus of IIT, Delhi presently working in Bangalore, and daughter, Mridu, who is pursuing her MD in Medical Microbiology at Bangalore Medical College, Bangalore. .