Maj Gen Bhalla new commandant of Command Hospital | Lucknow News
Lucknow: Major General Alok Bhalla, a noted gastrointestinal surgeon, has taken charge as the Commandant of Command Hospital, Central Command, Lucknow. He succeeds Maj Gen J Debnath, who will now assume the position of MG (Med) at Eastern Command Headquarters, Kolkata.A decorated officer with over 35 years of service, Maj Gen Bhalla has held key roles including Professor and Head of Surgery at AFMC Pune, and has served in forward areas like Assam, where he provided critical surgical care and medical advisory support. He has performed over 1,200 battlefield surgeries and is a recipient of the Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service.The Bhalla family is a rare example of military distinction across generations. His elder brother, Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, is the General Officer Commanding of the Fire & Fury 14 Corps in Leh, while his younger brother, Colonel Sharad Bhalla, is posted at Base Hospital, Delhi.Bhalla is expected to carry forward the legacy left by Debnath, where the General Officer efficiently introduced several patient-centric reforms. These included decentralized OPD registration, significantly reducing early morning queues, especially in high-demand departments like cardiology, ENT, and gynecology. He also led efforts to improve patient interaction standards and inaugurated a human milk bank, enhancing neonatal care.The Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services in a post on X praised Maj Gen Bhalla’s appointment, calling him a “distinguished GI surgeon” whose vast expertise will benefit the institution and its patients.
