In a significant milestone for respiratory healthcare within the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), inaugurated the ‘KASA’ (Cough) Clinic on August 13, 2026, marking the introduction of a first-of-its-kind dedicated clinical initiative within the AFMS for the comprehensive evaluation and management of patients suffering from cough-related conditions.
The establishment of the KASA Clinic represents an important step towards providing integrated, evidence-based and protocol-driven respiratory healthcare. Designed around a patient-centric model, the dedicated clinics aim to ensure that individuals presenting with persistent or recurrent cough receive structured evaluation, appropriate investigations and coordinated treatment instead of fragmented management of individual symptoms.
Cough is among the most common symptoms associated with respiratory illnesses and can arise from a wide range of underlying conditions. While many cases are temporary, persistent or chronic cough can require detailed evaluation to identify the underlying cause and determine an appropriate course of treatment.
The KASA Clinic has therefore been conceptualised around a multidisciplinary and longitudinal approach. Rather than treating cough solely as an isolated symptom, the initiative seeks to evaluate patients comprehensively and follow their progress over time, allowing clinicians to assess treatment response and modify management strategies where necessary.
The multidisciplinary approach is particularly important because persistent cough may involve several medical specialties depending on its underlying cause. Bringing relevant expertise together within a structured clinical pathway can help facilitate more coordinated diagnosis and treatment while improving the overall patient experience.
Another important feature of the KASA Clinic is its emphasis on evidence-based and protocol-driven care. Standardised clinical protocols can provide healthcare professionals with a systematic framework for evaluating patients, conducting appropriate investigations and determining further treatment or specialist referral.
Such an approach can also help reduce unnecessary investigations and repeated consultations by establishing a clear clinical pathway from initial assessment through diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.
The longitudinal component of the programme is equally significant. Patients suffering from persistent respiratory symptoms may require monitoring over an extended period to determine whether treatment is producing the desired results. Regular follow-up allows medical teams to evaluate changes in symptoms and make appropriate modifications to treatment.
The initiative reflects the broader emphasis of the Armed Forces Medical Services on preventive healthcare. Early identification and appropriate management of respiratory conditions can help prevent complications while improving the health and well-being of serving personnel and other beneficiaries.
For the Armed Forces, preventive healthcare also has a direct connection with operational effectiveness. Maintaining the health and fitness of personnel is essential for sustaining readiness, particularly for those serving in demanding operational environments, remote areas, high-altitude regions, ships, submarines and air bases.
The inauguration of the KASA Clinic also highlights the increasing emphasis being placed on specialised outpatient healthcare models within AFMS. Dedicated clinics can bring together clinical expertise, diagnostic pathways and follow-up mechanisms around specific medical problems, enabling a more focused approach to patient management.
Under Surg Vice Admiral Arti Sarin’s leadership, the Armed Forces Medical Services has continued to emphasise innovation, modernisation, preventive medicine and patient-centred healthcare. The KASA initiative adds another specialised capability to the extensive healthcare network supporting personnel of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
The initiative also reflects a shift towards healthcare models that focus not merely on treating disease after it becomes severe but on early evaluation, prevention, continuous monitoring and timely medical intervention.
By integrating multidisciplinary expertise with evidence-based protocols and longitudinal follow-up, the KASA Clinic aims to create a comprehensive pathway for patients suffering from cough and associated respiratory complaints.
The first-of-its-kind initiative within AFMS reinforces the organisation’s commitment to adopting innovative approaches to healthcare delivery while maintaining high standards of clinical excellence.
The inauguration by DGAFMS Surg Vice Admiral Arti Sarin marks an important addition to the Armed Forces medical ecosystem and underscores the continuing effort to strengthen specialised healthcare capabilities across the services.
With its emphasis on integrated assessment, protocol-driven treatment, multidisciplinary collaboration and sustained follow-up, the KASA Clinic represents a forward-looking approach to respiratory healthcare and further strengthens AFMS’ commitment to preventive medicine, innovation and excellence in patient care.
