The Army Medical Corps (AMC), which has also been extending service to civilians during disasters and natural calamities, today celebrated its 252nd anniversary at the headquarters of Northern Command in Udhampur.
"The Corps has come a long way from its modest beginning as the 'Bengal Medical Service' on January 1, 1764, to become a comprehensive medical service in the country providing health services to the servicemen, veterans and their dependents," an army spokesman said.
The Bengal Presidency Medical Service, which was the first of the military service of the three Presidencies in India, was established on January 1, 1764.
The Indian Army Medical Corps (IAMC) came into existence on April 3, 1943 by the amalgamation of the Indian Medical Service (IMS), Indian Medical Department (IMD) and Indian Hospital Corps (IHC).
After independence, IAMS was rechristened as Army Medical Corps.
The then President of India Dr S Radhakrishnan had presented the Presidential Standards to AMC on its raising day on April 3, 1966, he said.
"The corps has a glorious history of serving the Indian Armed Forces in war and peace as well as in missions abroad. The Army Medical Corps is known for its dedication and professionalism," he said.
He said that the Corps has been in the forefront of rendering yeoman service to the citizens during disasters and natural calamities as also extending medical care through "Operation Sadbhavana' in the remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
The motto of the AMC is 'Sarve Santu Niramaya (may all be free from disease and disability).
"Dedicated to the primary role of maintaining the medical fitness of the service personnel to the highest levels at all times, be it during peace or war, AMC has always performed with utmost professionalism and ardor in a wide spectrum of hostile terrains within the country and without," he said.
Armed with a strength of about 13,200 doctors, dentists and nursing staff and more than a lakh paramedics and civilians spread across the length and breadth of the country, the 'healers' are also adequately equipped to provide some of the best medical services in this region of the world, the spokesman said.
On the occasion, Lt Gen DS Hooda, GOC-in-C (Army Commander) Northern Command, appreciated the services rendered by AMC in looking after troops and their families.
