New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stones for three advanced medical centres—Ophthalmology, Oncology, and Joint Replacement—at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral), along with new infrastructure at the Base Hospital in Delhi Cantonment.
The upcoming facilities are designed to strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces Medical Services, particularly in specialised areas such as eye care, cancer treatment, and complex surgeries. The Base Hospital expansion will include nearly 1,000 beds, along with additional capacity for emergency situations, aiming to improve healthcare access for serving personnel, veterans, and their families.
Addressing the gathering during the Army Medical Corps Raising Day celebrations, Singh emphasized the need for innovation, capacity building, and the integration of advanced technologies in military medicine. He expressed confidence that the new projects would significantly enhance the quality of care provided to defence personnel.
Highlighting the broader role of military medical services, the Defence Minister noted that their outreach—ranging from remote regions of India to neighbouring countries like Nepal—has strengthened India’s global image. He described such efforts as an important reflection of the country’s soft power.
Singh also called for greater focus on research and self-reliance in the pharmaceutical sector. While acknowledging India’s strong position as a global supplier of medicines, he stressed the need to move beyond generic drug production toward innovation, advanced research, and high-quality clinical development.
He further underlined the importance of reforms in the clinical trial framework and suggested building a robust system for sharing medical data and treatment protocols nationwide. According to him, such measures would help transition India’s healthcare system from a reactive to a more proactive and evidence-based model.
Touching upon broader national priorities, Singh stated that health security is as critical as border security, especially during major military operations. He also encouraged exploring the upgrade of existing military hospitals across different regions to match the standards of top institutions.
During the event, Singh presented awards to top-performing defence hospitals, including Command Hospital (Southern Command), Pune, and INHS Asvini, recognising excellence in patient care and administration.
The Defence Minister also released a book on early neurodevelopmental intervention, reflecting the growing emphasis on research-driven healthcare within the armed forces.
Senior military leadership, including Anil Chauhan, Dinesh K Tripathi, and Upendra Dwivedi, attended the event, alongside other top officials.
