All About Different SSB Medical Boards – SMB | AMB

After successfully receiving a recommendation from the Service Selection Board (SSB), candidates go through a medical examination conducted by the Military Hospital. This medical board process usually takes about 4 to 5 days. Once the medical board is done, the candidates are informed about their medical status. Candidates often find it difficult to understand the differences among various SSB medical boards. There are three types of SSB medical boards, Special Medical Board (SMB), Appeal Medical Board (AMB), and Review Medical Board (RMB). In this article, we will discuss the differences among these medical boards and the procedure to appear for re-medical tests. Read on to learn more about these three different SSB medical boards.

The medical tests after recommendation start first by the Special Medical Board (SMB), then there is an option of Appeal Medical Board (AMB) for those candidates who are declared unfit by the SMB. In the end, there is the Review Medical Board (RMB) for such candidates who are declared unfit by the AMB. If a candidate is declared unfit, they have the option to appeal or request a review of the decision. The President of the medical board will guide the procedures for appeal or review. Candidates can also seek advice from the President of the Special Medical Board if they disagree with the unfit declaration. This helps ensure that candidates have a fair chance to address any concerns about their medical fitness for military service.

Convening of Special Medical Board (SMB):

– SMBs are convened at designated Armed Forces Medical Services Hospitals near Service Selection Boards (SSB).

– Candidates clearing SSB interviews are referred to these hospitals with identification documents.

Special Medical Board (SMB) Process:

– Staff Surgeon guides candidates to fill forms and organizes investigations/examinations by specialists (Medical, Surgical, Eye, ENT, Dental).

– Female candidates are examined by a Gynaecology Specialist.

– After specialist examinations, candidates appear before the SMB for final assessment.

Fitness Declaration by SMB:

– SMB, satisfied with specialist findings, declares the fitness status of the candidate.

– Candidates declared ‘Unfit’ by SMB can request an ‘Appeal Medical Board’ (AMB).

Appeal Medical Board (AMB) Procedure:

– Candidates declared ‘Unfit’ by SMB can request AMB.

– President SMB provides detailed procedures for AMB.

Admission to Training Academy:

– Only candidates declared fit by the Medical Board are admitted to the academy.

Confidentiality of Medical Board Proceedings:

– Proceedings of the Medical Board are confidential and not disclosed to anyone.

Notification of Unfitness:

– Candidates declared unfit are informed by the President of the Medical Board.

Appeal Medical Board (AMB) Outcome:

– Candidates declared unfit during AMB are informed about the provision of a Review Medical Board (RMB).

Procedure of Appeal Medical Board

The Appeal Medical Board will be held at one of the following hospitals:-

Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt.
Command Hospital, Southern Command, Pune.
Command Hospital, Eastern Command, Kolkata.
Command Hospital, Central Command, Lucknow.
Command Hospital, Western Command, Chandimandir.
Command Hospital, Air Force, Bangalore.
Command Hospital, Northern Command, C/o 56 APO.
INHS, Ashvini, Mumbai.

Appeal Medical Board (AMB) Process for Candidates Declared ‘Unfit’ by Special Medical Board (SMB)

Request for Appeal:

– Candidates declared ‘Unfit’ by SMB have the option to request an Appeal Medical Board (AMB).

Reporting Period:

– Candidates must report for re-examination within 42 days from the date of the last examination by the Special Medical Board.

Required Documentation:

– Candidates need to bring the receipt copy of the Medical Review Officer (MRO) or Temporary Rejection (TR) as directed by the President Medical Board.

Timeline:

– The goal is to complete the entire Appeal Medical Board process within a single day.

Candidates who are deemed unfit by the Appeal Medical Board (AMB) have the option to request a Review Medical Board (RMB) within one day of the completion of the AMB. The decision to grant sanction for holding the RMB is at the discretion of the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), based on the merit of each case. It is important to note that the convening of the RMB is not an automatic entitlement but is subject to approval by the DGAFMS. Candidates will be duly informed if the sanction for holding the RMB is granted, emphasizing that the RMB is not a guaranteed right but rather contingent on the circumstances of the individual case.

Review Medical Board (RMB) Process

Challenge and Review:

– If a candidate is declared unfit by the Appeal Medical Board (AMB), they have the option to challenge the proceedings and request a review based on the merit of the case.

Application Procedure:

– Candidates desiring a review should address the request to the Recruiting Directorate (Personnel & Coord), Army Headquarters, West Block III, RK Puram, New Delhi.

– A copy of the request should also be sent to the President of the Appeal Medical Board within one day of the holding of the Appeal Medical Board.

Routing of Applications:

– Applications for Review Medical Board (RMB) are routed through DG AFMS (Director General Armed Forces Medical Services).

Decision Authority:

– The decision for the grant of Review Medical Board is with DG AFMS and is not an automatic right for the candidate.

Review Medical Board Locations:

– RMBs are conducted at R&R Hospital Delhi Cantt and AFMC, Pune.

Stay During the Medical Examination and Discipline

Maintaining strict discipline is of paramount importance for recommended candidates during their stay at the Selection Centres for the medical examination. Candidates must wear their assigned medical chest numbers, marked with a Red Cross, whenever they are present within the Selection Centre’s campus.

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