Rajnath laid foundation stone for 3 new centers at R&R and new infrastructure at Base Hospital

New Delhi: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh The foundation stone was laid on Monday for new infrastructure facilities at the Ophthalmology, Oncology and Joint Replacement Centers at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) and the Delhi Cantonment Base Hospital.Speaking at the 262nd Army Medical Corps Recruitment Day celebrations, Rajnath said, “Military medical services in India and neighboring countries have become a strong testament to India’s soft power.” Encouraging the Army Medical Corps, he said, “Innovation, capacity building and integration of advanced technologies are necessary to address emerging military medical challenges.”The state-of-the-art facility at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) is designed to significantly enhance the tertiary care capabilities of the Armed Forces Medical Service (AFMS), particularly in the areas of advanced eye care, cancer treatment and complex joint replacement surgeries, while new infrastructure at the base hospital is being developed with a capacity of 998 beds and an additional 100 crisis extension beds to cater for the routine and emergency healthcare needs of Defense Force personnel.Rajnath said, “In today’s world, security is not just about protecting borders; health security is equally important. Strong medical support is critical to the success of major operations like Operation Sindoor. When soldiers are confident that they have access to quality medical facilities in any situation, they can complete their missions with confidence.”