Central Health Service

Central Health Service
Service Overview
Abbreviation CHS
Formed 01 May 1963 (01 May 1963)
Country Republic of India
Predecessor Indian Medical Service (Civil) (1896-1947)
Cadre Controlling Authority Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Legal Personality Governmental: Civil Service (Health Service)
Recruitment Union Public Service Commission
Training Institute NIHFW, New Delhi
Cadre Strength 4793 (2025)
Service Chief
Director General of Health Services Dr. Sunita Sharma (CHS)

Central Health Service (CHS) is an Organised Central (Group-A) Civil Service of the Government of India. The Cadre controlling authority of Central Health Service is the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and it is the only Organised Group-A service under MoHFW. CHS is one of the three Organised Health Services of the Government of India, other two being the Indian Railway Health Service (IRHS) and Indian Ordnance Factory Health Service (IOFHS). CHS Officers are involved in providing clinical care, medical education, health administration and implementation of Health Programs through various Central Government Institutions.

CHS has 4 sub-cadres

  1. General Duty Medical Officers (GDMO)
  2. Teaching Specialists (T)
  3. Non-Teaching Specialists (NT)
  4. Public Health Specialists (PH)

The CHS posts are Gazetted and the roles & responsibilities of the CHS Officers varies with the sub-cadre and the organisation/units to which the appointments are made.