On the concluding day of the Armed Forces Medical College’s 75th anniversary celebration in Pune (Maharashtra), the Director General of the Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), Lieutenant General Daljit Singh declared that their DNA fingerprinting project has successfully identified 12 cases of mortal remains of personnel. Samples of blood from Armed forces personnel have been gathered and documented into a repository at the Department of Forensic Medicine at AFMC.
The DGAFMS also spoke about the AFMC receiving the status of Institute of National Importance (INI) soon. He further expressed confidence that the prospect of the INI status would occur in the next six months. As an additional topic, Singh also assured the journalists present that the Armed Forces hospitals were fully able to cater to any servicemen or civilian cases if need arose, due to COVID-19 resurgence.
The two-day anniversary brought many medical professionals from across the globe to partake in orations, panel discussions and symposiums, aiming to address the military medical landscape. Notable panel discussions tackling medical luminaries and artificial intelligence, a Clinicopathological Case Discussion, and debates surrounding the contributions of AFMC alumni concluded the anniversary.
The observance of the Platinum Jubilee concluded with a solemn wreath laying ceremony at the Prerna Sthal at AFMC. Alongside the Director General of AFMS, several dignitaries such as Mr Naveen Jindal, former member of Parliament, President, and founder of the Flag Foundation of India and Lt. Gen. DP Vats, PVSM, SM, VSM (Retd), Member of Parliament participated in the ceremony by hoisting the 108ft National flag.
The Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) was established in 1948 to provide medical education and research to the Armed Forces of India. Alumni of AFMC have since achieved international recognition in the medical field and have come to be renowned professionals in their respective fields. In its 75-year tenure, the AFMC has firmly established itself as one of the top medical colleges of the country and is expected to be accorded with the INI status soon.
