Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurates Department of Military Medicine at Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow

Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated the Department of Military Medicine at Command Hospital (Central Command) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on July 29, 2026. The inauguration marks the establishment of the country’s first dedicated academic and operational department exclusively focused on military medicine. The initiative aims to enhance combat medical readiness, advancing research, developing indigenous doctrines and creating specialised expertise for future battlefields & humanitarian contingencies. Established under the aegis of the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army), it marks a significant step in strengthening the operational medical preparedness of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).

In his address, Raksha Mantri emphasised that while economic and social development are essential aspects of nation-building, the fundamental basis of any nation’s sovereignty & progress lies in the strength and the morale of its military. He exuded confidence that the Department of Military Medicine would strengthen national security by ensuring advanced medical support for the troops, while reinforcing their confidence that they will receive care and support in times of need.

The Department will focus on key disciplines including Military Trauma and Damage Control; Combat Psychiatry & Resilience; Environmental & Operational Medicine; Military Medical Logistics; Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear & Explosive (CBRNe) Medical Response; Emergency Medicine & Critical Care; Disaster Medicine and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) as well as Research, Audit & Data Analytics. It will also foster innovation in technology-enabled battlefield medicine, simulation-based training, telemedicine, prolonged field care and medical decision support.

The Department will be developed in a phased manner, with the initial phase focusing on establishment and commencement of academic programmes, followed by the creation of Centres of Excellence in HADR and CBRNe medicine, and eventual evolution into a nationally and internationally recognised centre for military medicine.

Highlighting the growing importance of military medicine, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that, just as aerospace medicine addresses the challenges faced by pilots and astronauts in low earth orbit, military medicine studies the physical and mental stresses exerted on the human body during war and war-like situations. “Our soldiers are deployed in some of the world’s most complex regions & harshest climates, exposed to diverse challenges. This new department will develop medical protocols tailored for these operational environments,” he said.