DG Railway Health Services – Director General Railway Health Services (DG RHS) Railway Board
DG Railway Health Services – Director General Railway Health Services (DG RHS) Railway Board
Dr. Bishnu Prasad Nanda has taken over as Director General, Railway Health Services (DG RHS) Railway Board
Dr. Bishnu Prasad Nanda has taken over as Director General Railway Health Services(DG RHS) Railway Board. He has joined at the apex post of the Health Department in the Railway Board. Prior to this, Dr. B P Nanda was serving as Principal Chief Medical Director, Southern Railway.
In Combined Medical Services Examination of UPSC in 1983, Dr.B P Nanda secured All India 1st position and was selected for the Indian Railway Medical Services. DrB P Nanda joined Indian Railway Medical Services on 14th November 1984, in Kharagpur Divisional Hospital of South Eastern Railway.
On completion of probation, Dr. Nanda was posted as Assistant Divisional Medical Officer at Chhindwara Health Unit in Madhya Pradesh under Nagpur Division and later transferred to Hatia Railway Hospital, Ranchi where he served for seven years. Subsequently he was transferred to Mancheswar Railway Hospital, Bhubaneswar. Dr. Nanda did his Post Graduation in ENT from Mumbai University, Bombay from 1994-97 and was posted as ENT specialist at Adra Divisional Railway Hospital where he had served for 15 years from 1997-2025.
After Promotion to SAG level as Chief Medical Superintendent of Chakradharpur Division, Dr. Nanda started his Administrative Career and continued to be Superintendents in Adra (Eastern Railway) and Madras (Southern Railways) till 2018 and then elevated to the rank of Principal Chief Medical Director of Southern Railways which consists of six Divisional Hospital including the most prestigious, Perambur Railway Hospital at Ayanavaram.
As Principal Chief Medical Director of Southern Railways, Dr. Nanda was instrumental in implementing e-Procurement of medicines and surgicals for the Zone. Under his able leadership, the Medical Department completed the e-Procurement and ensured equitable distribution to all Divisions. Academic activities has gained momentum to update IRHS cadre with latest developments in medical field. Two CME programmes at zonal level and one all India CME were conducted during his tenure.
Source: PIB
Here’s the verified and up-to-date overview of the Director General, Railway Health Services (DG‑RHS) position at the Railway Board, which heads the Health Directorate providing medical care to railway personnel and beneficiaries:
Contents
🏛️ Overview: DG – Railway Health Services
- The Director General Railway Health Services (DG‑RHS) leads the Health Directorate, an apex medical division at the Railway Board responsible for managing Indian Railways’ healthcare operations across zones and divisions
- This post is held by a senior officer from the Indian Railway Health Service (IRHS), a Group A civil service cadre of medical professionals recruited via the UPSC Combined Medical Services Examination
👤 Recent Leadership — Appointment History
Dr. Bishnu Prasad Nanda (2025–2025)
- Appointed DG‑RHS on 6 July 2025, previously served as Principal Chief Medical Director, Southern Railway
- Educational & Career Highlights:
- Topped UPSC CMS exam in 1983; joined IRMS/IRHS in November 1984 at Kharagpur (SER)
- PG in ENT (Mumbai University, 1994–97), served long tenure at Adra Divisional Railway Hospital.
- Served as Chief Medical Superintendent at Chakradharpur, followed by roles in Eastern & Southern Railways zones.
- Spearheaded e‑procurement of medicines and surgical supplies across Southern Railway with improved efficiency and distribution systems.
- Oversaw zonal CMEs (continuing medical education) and national-level training for IRHS cadre
Dr. Jagdish Chandra (from June 2025)
- On 17 June 2025, Dr. Jagdish Chandra (an IRHS officer serving in Northern Railway) was appointed as the new DG‑RHS, taking over from Dr. Nanda
Temporary Charge By R. Rajagopal (June 2025)
- On 11 June 2025, R. Rajagopal, DG (Human Resources) at the Railway Board, was assigned the additional responsibilities of DG‑RHS on an interim basis for three months
🏥 Organizational Structure & Functions
- The DG‑RHS heads the Health Directorate at Railway Board, coordinating health policy, medical infrastructure standards, pandemic response, drug procurement, and health administration across zones
- Each railway zone has a Principal Chief Medical Director (PCMD) who manages zonal hospitals and medical programs. Divisional hospitals are overseen by Chief Medical Superintendents under the zone’s PCMD
📋 Summary Table
| Position | Name | Appointment Date | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| DG‑RHS (Railway Board) | Dr. Bishnu Prasad Nanda | 6 July 2025 | Innovative e‑procurement; zone-wide medical reforms |
| Interim DG‑RHS | R. Rajagopal | 11 June 2025 (3 mo charge) | Dual role with HR Directorate |
| DG‑RHS (Incoming) | Dr. Jagdish Chandra | 17 June 2025 | Former Northern Railway senior IRHS officer |
✅ Key Points to Note
- The DG‑RHS is the head of medical functions at Railway Board and oversees healthcare delivery to railway employees, pensioners, dependents, and licensed personnel.
- Appointees are IRHS officers recruited via UPSC medical exams, with long-serving experience in zonal hospital administration.
- The DG‑RHS works with zonal PCMDs to manage network-wide medical infrastructure, policies, and emergencies.
- Recent leadership transitions in 2025 had an interim tenure (R. Rajagopal) followed by appointment of Dr. Jagdish Chandra as full-time DG‑RHS
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