Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday laid the foundation stones for state-of-the-art medical facilities, including Ophthalmology, Oncology, and Joint Replacement Centres at Army Hospital (Research and Referral), along with new infrastructure at Base Hospital Delhi Cantt, as part of the 262nd Army Medical Corps Raising Day celebrations.
The new facilities are aimed at significantly enhancing tertiary healthcare capabilities for Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and their dependents. The Base Hospital infrastructure will include a capacity of 998 beds, along with an additional 100 crisis expansion beds to address both routine and emergency medical needs.
Addressing the gathering, Singh emphasised the need for continuous innovation, capacity building, and integration of advanced technologies to tackle emerging challenges in military medicine. He expressed confidence that the modern infrastructure would strengthen healthcare delivery across the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).
Highlighting the role of military medical outreach, the Defence Minister praised AFMS personnel for their service in remote regions and neighbouring countries, including Nepal, stating that such initiatives have enhanced India’s global goodwill and demonstrated its “soft power.”
Singh also underscored the importance of research and self-reliance in the pharmaceutical sector. While acknowledging India’s strength as a global supplier of medicines, he pointed out the need to advance in high-end drug innovation, early disease detection, and personalised treatment, particularly in areas such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Calling for reforms in the clinical trial framework, he said India must strengthen its research ecosystem and develop global-standard testing infrastructure. He also advocated for the creation of a national-level medical data pool to enable evidence-based treatment and policy formulation.
The Defence Minister stressed that health security is a critical component of national security, noting that robust medical support boosts the confidence of soldiers during operations. He urged the AFMS to explore upgrading existing hospitals across the country to match the standards of Army Hospital (R&R), rather than relying solely on new projects.
During the event, Singh also presented awards to leading defence hospitals, with Command Hospital (Southern Command), Pune, being named the best hospital, followed by INHS Asvini, Mumbai.
Senior defence officials, including Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan and Chief of the Army Staff Upendra Dwivedi, were present at the event.
