The 73rd Armed Forces Medical Conference, known as ARMEDiCON2025, was officially inaugurated today at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune by Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, AVSM, VSM, who currently holds the esteemed position of Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS). The event marks a significant gathering for the advancement of healthcare, training, and research within the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).
The inauguration was highlighted by the keynote address delivered by Lieutenant General (Retd) Madhuri Kanitkar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, who serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS). Lt Gen Kanitkar, a retired General Officer of the Indian Army, is notable for being the third woman in the Indian Armed Forces to achieve a Three-star rank, following in the footsteps of Surgeon Vice Admiral Punita Arora and Air Marshal Padma Bandopadhyay.
Her address likely covered insights from her extensive career, including her role in setting up the first Pediatric Nephrology service in the Army Medical Corps and her contributions to medical education and research.
The conference is attended by over 200 AFMS officers, along with senior AFMS dignitaries, esteemed veterans, and distinguished guests, all coming together to engage in insightful deliberations aimed at enhancing medical services within the military framework. This event underscores AFMC’s role as a premier medical institute in India, recognized for its excellence in education and research, providing comprehensive training to both undergraduate and postgraduate medical and nursing students with assured career prospects in defense services.
AFMC was established on May 1, 1948, through the amalgamation of various defense medical organizations, with its “Graduate Wing” set up in 1962 to ensure a steady intake of medical officers for the Indian Armed Forces.
The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) plays a crucial role in meeting the healthcare needs of Armed Forces personnel, their dependents, ex-servicemen, and their families. Beyond routine medical care, AFMS is involved in various governmental health initiatives and is pivotal in the postgraduate training of doctors, ensuring specialized healthcare expertise within the military.
Civilian doctors who join postgraduate courses at AFMS institutions are required to serve a five-year tenure, enhancing the mutual benefit between AFMS and civilian medical professionals.
Surg Vice Adm Arti Sarin, who assumed the role of DGMS (Air) after a distinguished 36-year career, brought her academic prowess and administrative excellence to the fore at this conference. Known for her contributions to the establishment of the Centre for Preventive Oncology at AFMC and for fostering collaborations with institutions like NIV, Pune, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and IIT, Mumbai, her leadership has significantly advanced AFMC’s standing in biomedical research and healthcare innovation.
This conference not only represents a platform for professional development but also symbolizes the ongoing commitment of the AFMS to excellence in military medicine, training, and research, underlining the institution’s critical role in national defense and public health.
This conference not only represents a platform for professional development but also symbolizes the ongoing commitment of the AFMS to excellence in military medicine, training, and research, underlining the institution’s critical role in national defense and public health.
