ARMY MEDICAL CORPS CELEBRATES 254TH RAISING DAY
The 254th anniversary of Army Medical Corps was celebrated on 03 April 2018, by all the Army medical units of the country. The celebrations at Southern Command were headed by Lieutenant General Manomoy Ganguly, Vishist Seva Medal, an eminent Oncosurgeon and Administrator.
The history of the Indian Medical Services dates back to 1612, when on the formation of the East India Company, the Company appointed John Woodall as their first Surgeon General. As the company expanded activities in various part of the country, the Bengal Medical Service was formed on 01 January 1764, the Madras Medical Service in 1767 and the Bombay Medical Service in 1779 for the three Presidency Armies of Bengal, Madras and Bombay respectively. In due course of time, the three medical services were combined into one “Indian Medical Services”, on 03 April 1886 under a Surgeon General to the Government of India. Thereafter it was renamed as The “Indian Army Medical Corps” on 03 April 1943. The Corps was renamed as “Army Medical Corps” (AMC) on adoption of the Constitution of India on 26 January 1950.
Thereafter, the AMC has always rendered sterling services in all wars and Operations including wars of 1948, 1965, 1971, IPKF and Kargil. Major (later Brig) Rasmay Ganguly, was the Surgeon to Brig Usman of 50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade in the famous Battle of Nowshera during the War with Pakistan in 1948. Lieutenant Colonel AG Rangaraj, Mahavir Chakra, was the first paratrooper of the Indian Army, who earned his wings during World War II. He was also the first one to be para-dropped into Korea during 1950, alongwith US Army paratroopers, as part of the UN Mission.
The Corps has been bestowed with several awards for gallantry and Service, including 01 Ashok Chakra, 03 Mahavir Chakras, 03 Kirti Chakras, 22 Vir Chakras, 09 Shaurya Chakras, 96 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 185 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 08 Yudh Seva Medals, 127 Sena Medals and 492 Vishisht Seva Medals for its meritorious services. In addition, Army Medical Corps has the honour of 04 Padma Bhushan and 04 Padma Shri to its credit.
Army Medical Corps has numerous firsts and accolades to its credit. Brigadier Rasmay Ganguly, who was the only officer from the Armed Forces Medical Services to win the prestigious “Hallet Prize” in 1956, for securing first position with distinction in the FRCS examination of Royal College of Surgeons of England, was also nominated as the only surgeon to the Queen of England on her visit to India and Nepal in 1959. Thereafter, he was the pioneer plastic and vascular surgeon of the country, who established the first plastic surgery department and burns centre of Armed Forces at Command Hospital Southern Command as well as at Safdarjung Hospital at Delhi in the early sixties. Artificial Limb Centre Pune, was the pioneer centre for manufacturing of artificial limbs in the Country. Military Hospital (Cardio Transplant Centre), Pune established at Aundh in early sixties was the pioneer institute of the Country for Cardio Thoracic surgery.
Armed Forces Medical Services is the only Tri-Service Corps. Armed Forces Medical College at Pune is the only institution of the Country where cadets of all Three Services of the Armed Forces attend a common passing out parade. The Army Medical Corps comprises of about 6000 Medical Officers including specialists, 300 Non Technical Officers, 3500 Nursing Officers, 50000 Junior Commissioned Officers/Other Ranks and 9000 defence civilian employees, looking after about 4 crore clientele including veterans and dependants, with 40000 hospital beds. The medical units include a Medical College, a Sports Medicine Centre, 112 Army Hospitals, 22 Air Force Hospitals and 14 Naval Hospitals. In addition there are numerous other smaller medical organisations like Field Hospitals, Section Hospitals, Medical Inspection Rooms, Transfusion Centres etc. The Army Medical Corps always stands true to its motto of “Sarve Santu Niramaya”.
While speaking at a function organised to celebrate the Corps Day, Lieutenant General Manoj Pande, Ati Vishist Seva Medal, Vishist Seva Medal, Chief of Staff Headquarters Southern Command, felicitated the Army Medical Corps on this occasion & appreciated the yeoman service carried out by the Corps, both during peace and War. He also conveyed his best wishes to all serving & retired Officers, Junior Commissions Officers, Other Ranks and families of the Army Medical Corps on this momentous occasion.
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