Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin is the first woman officer to lead military health services. She spoke about the indigenous solution to unique health challenges of high altitude, specific focused programmes for Indian Air Force fighter pilots and submariners of the Indian Navy, and key projects that they plan to complete in the near future. Sarin: We aim to modernise and expand the infrastructure of military hospitals and field medical units. Various upcoming projects include upgrading field hospitals with modular facilities for enhanced mobility. The ‘Yodha Rakshak’ programme is a grassroots reform aimed at training all combatants in life-saving skills to empower them to perform self and buddy care during conflict. An Institute of Military Medicine at Lucknow as a Centre of Excellence for combat medical care is on the anvil. A study of patterns of injuries in various conflicts around the world is being envisaged to help us prepare for providing medical care in the future. We recruit around 250-450 Medical Officers (MOs) every year and have taken adequate steps to cover the shortage. AFMC has an intake of 150 students for MBBS. As of now, there is no plan to increase it.
