India Launches First Department of Military Medicine to Boost Combat Healthcare and Emerging Threat Preparedness
NEW DELHI , JULY 29,2026 :- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated the country’s first dedicated Department of Military Medicine at Command Hospital (Central Command) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Established under the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army), this inaugural academic and operational hub aims to advance combat medical readiness, foster indigenous research, and build specialized expertise for future battlefield scenarios and humanitarian operations. Speaking on the occasion, Rajnath Singh emphasized that a nation’s sovereignty relies on military strength and morale, noting that the new department will reinforce national security by delivering advanced medical care to troops serving in challenging environments and extreme climates.
Conceived as a center of excellence, the department will focus on key operational domains, including combat trauma and damage control, combat psychiatry, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNe) medical responses, disaster medicine, and medical logistics. It will integrate technology-enabled practices such as artificial intelligence, wearable health trackers, simulation training, and telemedicine to enhance real-time monitoring and preventive care. The initiative is structured to evolve in phases, starting with core academic programs, establishing Centers of Excellence in CBRNe and disaster relief, and ultimately developing into an internationally recognized hub for military healthcare.
In his address, the Defence Minister highlighted the role of preventive healthcare as a primary line of defense, linking it directly to combat readiness. He noted that the center will provide structured postgraduate and super-specialization programs for young Army Medical Corps doctors, creating new career pathways and elevating India’s stature in global medical research. The inauguration was attended by top defense officials, including Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The establishment aligns with the national strategy of strengthening indigenous capabilities and complements the proposed Global Military Medicine Centre envisioned under the Raksha Strategy Vision 2026–30.