Command Hospital (AF) Bangalore bags Best Command Hospital trophy

The Command Hospital, Eastern Command, Kolkata was adjudged the Second Best Command Hospital during this period. Commandant of the Hospital Major General YS Sarma received the Trophy from the Defence Minister.

Describing the Medical Services as the real backbone of the Armed Forces, Defence Minister Shri AK Antony said the medical field units should be modernized and adequate staff should be provided to make them efficient. In this context, he said some of the buildings located in the field units are really very old and these should be demolished and new buildings should be constructed there. He complimented the Armed Forces Medical Services for providing the yeoman services to the people of Sri Lanka during the recent ethnic clashes.

The Armed Forces Medical Services provide comprehensive medical care to the Army, Navy and the Air Force. The comprehensive medical cover spans the entire spectrum of preventive, curative and rehabilitative services to the serviceman, ex-servicemen and their families.

The Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services have always excelled in their role whether in combat medical support or providing the most advanced and specialised treatment with state of the art medical facilities. In addition the Armed Forces Medical Services have always been among the first responders in situations like disasters and natural calamities, within the country and abroad. The medical services provided to UN Missions and other relief teams have generated tremendous goodwill among the international community.

The Raksha Mantri’s Trophy was instituted in 1989 to recognize excellence in patient care among the Command Hospitals of the Army and equivalent hospitals in the Navy and Air Force.

Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, Secretary Ex-Servicemen Welfare Smt Neelam Nath and other senior civil and military officers of Ministry of Defence also graced the occasion.