India's first dedicated Department of Military Medicine inaugurated in Lucknow

The facility will be developed in phases, starting with academic programmes before expanding into Centres of Excellence for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives (CBRNE) defence

Published - July 29, 2026 06:18 pm IST — New Delhi

By Saurabh Trivedi

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) virtually inaugurated the Department of Military Medicine at the Command Hospital (Central Command) in Lucknow. This is India’s first dedicated academic and operational department focused exclusively on military medicine.

Established under the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army), the new department seeks to strengthen operational medical preparedness of the Armed Forces Medical Services by improving:

• Combat medical readiness
• Research and development
• Indigenous doctrines
• Specialised expertise for battlefields and humanitarian contingencies

according to the Ministry of Defence.

Phased Development

The facility will be developed in phases:

1. Initial phase: Academic programmes
2. Expansion phase: Centres of Excellence for:

• Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR)
• Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives (CBRNE) defence

1. Long-term goal: An internationally recognised hub for military medicine

Minister's Remarks

The strength and morale of the military form the foundation of a nation's sovereignty and progress, Mr. Singh said at the inauguration. He expressed confidence that the department would provide advanced medical support to troops, instilling confidence in timely care during operations.

Indian soldiers serve in some of the world's toughest operational environments and require medical protocols tailored to extreme conditions, Mr. Singh noted, stressing the need to prepare for emerging threats, including weapons of mass destruction.

Preventive healthcare is the first line of defence, he said, calling for greater use of:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Wearable devices
• Predictive analytics
• Advanced diagnostics

to monitor soldiers' health and improve combat readiness.

Focus Areas

The Department of Military Medicine will focus on specialised disciplines, including:

• Military trauma and damage control
• Combat psychiatry and resilience
• Environmental and operational medicine
• Military medical logistics
• Medical response to CBRNE defence
• Emergency medicine and disaster medicine
• Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR)
• Research, audit, and data analytics

It will also support innovation in battlefield medicine through:

• Simulation-based training
• Telemedicine
• Prolonged field care
• AI-enabled medical decision support

Strategic Alignment

The new department is aligned with the Centre's focus on indigenous capabilities and complements the proposed Global Military Medicine Centre under the Raksha Strategy Vision 2026-30, the Ministry said.

Published - July 29, 2026 06:18 pm IST