India Enhances Military Healthcare: Foundation Stones Laid for New Oncology and Ophthalmology Centres
DELHI CANTT APRIL 6, 2026 :-In a major boost to the medical infrastructure of the Armed Forces, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stones for dedicated Ophthalmology, Oncology, and Joint Replacement Centres at the Army Hospital (Research & Referral) today. The ceremony, held as part of the 262nd Army Medical Corps Raising Day, also included the commencement of new infrastructure at the Base Hospital in Delhi Cantt. These state-of-the-art facilities are designed to provide world-class tertiary care to serving personnel, veterans, and their dependents. The expansion at the Base Hospital is particularly significant, featuring a 998-bed capacity along with an additional 100 crisis expansion beds to manage both routine and emergency healthcare requirements for the Defence Forces.
During his address, Rajnath Singh emphasized that innovation, capacity building, and the integration of advanced technologies are essential to meeting the evolving challenges of military medicine. He lauded the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for its role as a pillar of India’s “soft power,” noting that their medical outreach extends beyond national borders to neighboring countries like Nepal. Highlighting the government’s commitment to self-reliance, he urged the AFMS to prioritize research and original drug discovery to reduce dependency on external pharmaceutical sources. He further suggested that the Command and Base hospitals across the country should be upgraded to the standards of the Army Hospital (R&R) through brownfield projects to ensure equitable access to superior medical care for all soldiers.
The event also focused on the future of healthcare security, with Singh asserting that health security is as vital as border security in maintaining the morale and confidence of the troops. To recognize excellence in service, the Raksha Mantri Trophy for the Best Hospital of AFMS was awarded to Command Hospital (Southern Command), Pune, followed by INHS Asvini, Mumbai. The ceremony, attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and the tri-service chiefs, concluded with the release of a specialized medical book on neurodevelopmental intervention, signaling a shift toward a more research-driven and proactive healthcare model for the Indian military.