A state-of-the-art Viral Research & Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) was inaugurated on December 30, 2025, at Army Hospital (Research & Referral), significantly strengthening the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) preparedness against emerging and re-emerging viral diseases.
The advanced facility was inaugurated by Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS). The VRDL is designed to enhance early detection, outbreak investigation, genomic surveillance, and a One Health–based integrated response, reinforcing the military’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to infectious disease threats.
Equipped with modern diagnostic and research capabilities, the VRDL will support advanced virology research, specialised training, and real-time surveillance, contributing to evidence-based decision-making during public health emergencies. The laboratory will also play a critical role in monitoring viral evolution and transmission dynamics, aligning military medical preparedness with national and global health security frameworks.
During the inauguration, the DGAFMS also released two key publications—the virology newsletter “VIROSCOPE” and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance bulletin “MICROBE HUNTERS.” These publications aim to disseminate critical insights on viral trends and AMR patterns, fostering awareness, research collaboration, and informed clinical practices across the Armed Forces medical network.
The inauguration of the VRDL underscores AFMS’s steadfast commitment to clinical excellence, technological modernisation, and innovation-driven healthcare, further consolidating Army Hospital (R&R)’s position as a national centre of excellence in advanced medical diagnostics, research, and training.
