Rajnath Singh Opens India’s First Military Medicine Department To Counter “Emerging Threats”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday inaugurated India’s first dedicated Department of Military Medicine at the Command Hospital (Central Command) in Lucknow, marking a major step towards strengthening military healthcare and preparing the armed forces for future challenges.

The new department will serve as a centre for military medical research, training and innovation, helping develop specialised healthcare plans for soldiers deployed in high altitude regions, extreme climates and difficult operational areas.

“ 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, ” Singh said.

The Defence Minister said modern warfare is creating new challenges beyond traditional weapons. “Alongside conventional weaponry, the threat of weapons of mass destruction persists in the current era. The department will serve as a hub for research and development to deal with emerging threats arising from rapid technological advancements , ” he added.

The facility will focus on combat medicine, battlefield surgery, trauma care, emergency treatment, disaster response, epidemic control and CBRNe response involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats. It will also work on prolonged field care for situations where injured soldiers face delays in evacuation.

Singh stressed the importance of prevention in military healthcare. “ Preventive healthcare is directly linked to combat readiness and national security, ” he said, adding that technologies like artificial intelligence, wearable devices, predictive analytics and advanced diagnostics can help monitor soldiers’ health and identify risks early.

The department will support postgraduate training, simulation based exercises and research in areas such as telemedicine, battlefield technology, medical logistics and health data analysis. It will also strengthen India’s ability to support UN peacekeeping missions and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Highlighting the importance of military strength, Singh said, “The fundamental basis of any nation’s sovereignty and progress rests on the strength and morale of its military.”

The department will be developed in phases, creating specialised expertise for future battlefields, disasters and national emergencies while ensuring faster and better medical support for troops.