AFMC Pune successfully hosts 3 days 71st Annual Armed Forces Medical Conference

Pune: Armed Forces Medical College, Pune organised the 71st Annual Armed Forces Medical Conference and the 61st Armed Forces Medical Research Committee (AFMRC) Meeting in online mode from February 1 to 3, said a defense press statement last week.

Healthcare professionals of the armed forces serving across the country participated in the event.

The three-day conference, organized by AFMC, Pune, discussed a wide spectrum of issues in respect to the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS). The conference was virtually inaugurated by Lt Gen Daljit Singh, AVSM, VSM, PHS, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) & Senior Colonel Commandant, Army Medical Corps.

Awards for academic excellence in postgraduate and in-service training courses, Medical Journal of Armed Forces of India (MJAFI) best-published paper and best reviewer awards were presented by the DGAFMS.

The principal investigators of the best AFMRC projects in subjects of Internal Medicine and allied subjects, Surgery and allied subjects, Pathology and allied subjects, Community Medicine and allied subjects and Dental Surgery were felicitated. Four best research papers published by doctors of the Armed Forces Medical Services were awarded “The Chief of Army Staff Award”, “The Chief of Naval Staff Award”, “The Chief of Air Staff Award” and the “DGAFMS medal”.

Fostering cooperation with the civilian medical fraternity, several guest lectures by eminent speakers were organized. Medical Journal Armed Forces India (MJAFI) oration for the year 2023 was delivered by Dr VM Katoch, Former Director General, ICMR; President, JIPMER, Puducherry and Chairman LEPRA Society on the topic ‘TB and Leprosy control programs- Journey and way forward’.

Dr Vivek Lal, Professor & HoD, Dept. of Neurology and Director PGI, Chandigarh, delivered a lucid lecture on ‘Eye movements – A case based approach’. Dr Probal Neogi, President elect, Association of Surgeons of India, and Professor, Dept of Surgery, Motilal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj, UP, enlightened the delegates with a lecture on ‘Surgical training – Past, Present and Future’.

At the core of the deliberations was the 61st Annual Meeting of Armed Forces Medical Research Committee (AFMRC).

The AFMRC provided a platform to the AFMS researchers posted all over the country to meaningfully contribute and be a valuable part of this enormous research and learning process. This year 38 new research proposals were discussed. The proposals were approved taking into consideration their relevance to the Armed Forces.

One of the key events of the conference was the Armed Forces Medical Academic Committee (AFMAC) meeting which discussed important academic and training matters at various training institutions of the AFMS.

The meeting was attended by senior dignitaries of the AFMS. Lt Gen Madhuri Kanitkar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Honorable Vice Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, and Dr Rajesh Karyakarte, Professor & HoD, Department of Microbiology, BJ Medical College, Pune gave invaluable inputs as co-opted members of the committee.

Session on perspective challenges included talks by Maj Gen Punit Yadav, MG Med (HQ MG & G) Area on ‘Integration of medical services & logistics across the three services’ and Brig B Harikrishnan, Commandant, Base Hospital, Lucknow on ‘Recruitment medical examination: Future challenges and the road ahead’.

The Armed Forces Medical Conference provided an excellent platform for deliberations in the field of Clinical Medicine, Military Medicine and Combat Medical support. The conference witnessed clinicians, researchers, academicians and medical administrators deliberate on current and emerging areas of importance in health care and paved the way for pertinent research for Armed Forces Medical Services.

The DGAFMS in his closing address, complimented the tri-service delegates attending the conference from across the country, for the exceptional work being undertaken by them in all spheres of healthcare delivery and medical research. He exhorted all the medical, dental, and nursing officers of the tri-service AFMS to work with sincerity, selflessness and professionalism coupled with compassion so as to provide the highest quality of care.

The DGAFMS emphasized that the primary role and focus of the AFMS was combat medical support and that the AFMS should provide the best medical support to our soldiers, sailors and air warriors in combat roles. The DGAFMS laid special emphasis on the importance of looking after the medical needs of veterans in our hospitals.

The exemplary efforts of team AFMC, under the able guidance of Maj Gen D Vivekanand, Dean & officiating Commandant, AFMC, in successfully hosting the conference were appreciated by one and all, said the statement.