Rajnath Singh unveils dedicated Military Medicine Department for Armed Forces

LEH/LUCKNOW: India on Wednesday established its first dedicated Department of Military Medicine with Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurating the facility at Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow, describing it as a major step towards enhancing combat medical preparedness, military healthcare research and operational capability of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).

Established under the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army), the department will function as the country’s principal academic, research and doctrinal institution for military medicine. It has been conceived to strengthen battlefield medical support, develop indigenous medical doctrines, advance research and train specialised personnel for future combat operations, humanitarian missions and disaster response.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Rajnath Singh said the security and progress of a nation ultimately rest on the strength and morale of its armed forces. He expressed confidence that the new department would enhance the confidence of soldiers by ensuring advanced medical support in operational situations while reinforcing national defence preparedness.

The department will undertake specialised work in combat trauma and damage control, combat psychiatry, environmental and operational medicine, military medical logistics, emergency and critical care, disaster medicine, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNe) medical response. It will also promote research in telemedicine, simulation-based training, prolonged field care, medical decision-support systems and other technology-driven battlefield healthcare solutions.

Highlighting the changing nature of warfare, the Raksha Mantri said military medicine has acquired greater relevance as soldiers operate in high-altitude terrain, extreme climates and complex operational environments. He noted that the department would develop medical protocols tailored to India’s operational requirements while strengthening preparedness against emerging threats, including weapons of mass destruction.

Rajnath Singh also emphasised the importance of preventive healthcare in maintaining combat readiness, advocating the use of artificial intelligence, wearable devices, predictive analytics and advanced diagnostics for continuous health monitoring and early identification of medical risks among troops.

The department will be developed in phases, beginning with academic programmes and specialised training, followed by the establishment of dedicated Centres of Excellence in HADR and CBRNe Medicine. It will also facilitate postgraduate education in combat medicine, combat surgery and trauma care while promoting indigenous research aligned with India’s military requirements.

The Raksha Mantri said the institution would create new avenues for Army Medical Corps doctors to pursue super-specialisation in military medicine and contribute to advanced research in battlefield healthcare. He expressed hope that the department would evolve into a globally recognised centre for military medicine, strengthening India’s defence healthcare ecosystem and operational preparedness.

The initiative complements the proposed Global Military Medicine Centre under the Raksha Strategy Vision 2026–30 and forms part of the Government’s broader efforts to modernise military healthcare through technology-enabled, operationally responsive and research-driven medical capabilities.