India Gets First Military Medicine Facility

New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday inaugurated the Department of Military Medicine at the Command Hospital (Central Command) in Lucknow, the country’s first dedicated academic and operational facility in the field.

Inaugurating the facility virtually, Singh said it would serve as a hub for research and development to address emerging threats, including those posed by weapons of mass destruction.

“Our soldiers are deployed in some of the world's most complex regions and harshest climates, exposed to diverse challenges. This new department will develop medical protocols tailored for these operational environments,” he said.

He noted that military medicine studies the physical and mental stress faced by soldiers in combat situations and would enhance preparedness for evolving challenges. “In such a situation, the department will serve as a hub for research and development, equipping the nation to deal with emerging threats arising out of the rapid technologies advancements,” he said.

According to the Defence Ministry, the department has been conceived as a centre of excellence and will function as the principal academic, research and doctrinal hub for the Armed Forces Medical Services.

It will offer structured education and training in military and operational medicine, facilitate postgraduate programmes in areas such as combat medicine, combat surgery and trauma care, and promote indigenous research aligned with operational requirements.

The ministry said the facility would strengthen expertise in disaster response, field hospital deployment, mass casualty management and epidemic control, while also supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Singh said the department would provide a training platform for young doctors of the Army Medical Corps in battlefield healthcare and advanced life support. “The department will open up a new career pathway for young medical professionals. Students will now be able to pursue super-specialisation in military medicine. This will not only enhance intellectual capital within the military, but also elevate India's stature in medical research on the international stage,” he said.

He also emphasised the importance of preventive healthcare, calling it the first line of defence and linking it to combat readiness and national security. “Preventive healthcare is directly linked to combat readiness and national security. We can leverage technologies such as AI, wearable devices, predictive analytics, and advanced diagnostics to enhance real-time monitoring of soldiers' health and the early identification of potential health risks,” he said.

The department will focus on areas including military trauma, combat psychiatry, environmental and operational medicine, medical logistics, CBRNe response, emergency and critical care, disaster medicine and research.

The ministry said the initiative, established under the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army), marks a step towards strengthening operational medical preparedness of the armed forces.