India, July 29 -- The threat of weapons of mass destruction persists in the current era, Defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday, as he inaugurated the country's first academic and operational facility exclusively for military medicine. The defence minister virtually inaugurated the Department of Military Medicine at the Command Hospital (Central Command) in Lucknow, asserting it will serve as a hub for research and development, preparing the nation to deal with "emerging threats". Highlighting the growing importance of military medicine, Singh said the discipline studies the physical and mental stresses on soldiers during combat situations.
"Our soldiers are deployed in some of the world's most complex regions and harshest climates, exposed to diverse challenges. This new department will develop medical protocols tailored for these operational environments," he said. The defence minister emphasised that alongside traditional weaponry, the threat of weapons of mass destruction persists in the current era. "In such a situation, the department will serve as a hub for research and development, equipping the nation to deal with emerging threats arising out of the rapid technologies advancements," he said. As the world's largest democracy and a responsible power, India is one of the largest military contributors to United Nations' peacekeeping missions, and at the forefront of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations far beyond national borders, the defence ministry said. The Department of Military Medicine will prove invaluable in enhancing expertise in disaster response, field hospital deployment, mass casualty management and epidemic control, it added. The newly-established department has been conceived as a centre of excellence in military medicine and will serve as the principal academic, research and doctrinal hub for Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.