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In an enterprise founded on destruction and killing, military doctors have a uniquely constructive mission. They must mend their own comrades’ wounds and if possible, send them back to fight, even if it risks further injury. Doctors rarely carry a weapon and in most instances are exempt from being fired on. That doesn't always protect them from danger, and it surely does not exempt them from the stresses of war. A soldier, if he’s truly lucky, may never witness a casualty; casualties are what wartime military doctors deal with every day.
Army Medical Corps
(Sarve Santu Niramyah)
"may all be disease-free"
________________________________________
HISTORY OF ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
Introduction
Very little is known of the medical organisations that existed in the various Armies in this country in the ancient times. However, Kautilya’s Arthashastra shows that during battles, physicians with surgical instruments (Sastra, medicines and drugs in their hands besides women with prepared food and beverages) used to stand behind the fighting men. Similarly, from Sushruta Samhita, it is seen that a physician fully equipped with Medicines would live in a camp not remote from the royal pavilion and there the persons wounded by arrows and other war projectiles, or those who had imbibed poison used to be treated. A physician in the King’s service used to adopt certain measures to protect the life of his royal highness from secret poisoning. The physician well versed in technical sciences and with knowledge of other allied branches of study was held in high esteem by the King and others.
The Army Medical Corps came into existence as a homogeneous corps of officers and men on the pattern of the Royal Army Medical Corps on 03 Apr 1943 by the amalgamation of the Indian Medical Service, the Indian Medical Department and the Indian Hospital Corps. The Corps was formed as a wartime necessity for attracting suitably qualified men for service in a rapidly expanding army.
________________________________________
Indian Medical Service
The history of the Indian Medical Service (IMS) dates back to 1612 when on the formation of the East India Company into a joint stock business, the Company appointed John Woodall as their first Surgeon General. Under him, medical Corps officers (mainly civilians) were recruited more or less on individual contracts. The company expanded activities in various part of the country which necessitated the formation and maintenance of regular bodies of troops in India. As a consequence, they commenced employing Military Surgeons from 1745 onwards. It was not until 1764 that these Surgeons were made into regular establishment of the company’s armies. Thus the Bengal Medical Service was formed in 1764, the Madras Medical Service in 1767 and the Bombay Medical Service in 1779 for the three Presidency Armies of Bengal, Madras and Bombay respectively. Three medical services were in due course combined into one Indian Medical Services (IMS) in Apr 1886 under a Surgeon General to the Govt of India. The designation was later changed into the Director General, Indian Medical Service. In 1913, the appointment was designated as the Director of Medical Services in India.
Until the First Word War the IMS was pre-dominantly civil in character, but gradually from 1912 onwards those employed in civil duties became less and less in number. Indianisation of this service commenced from 1915 onwards. Sarjoo Coomar Goodeve Chauckerbutty was the first Indian to enter the service as Assistant Surgeon on 24 Jan 1855.
Until Burma was separated in 1935, the IMS was catering for the civil and military needs of Burma also. During this period, the IMS was assisted by the members of the Indian Medical Department (IMD) and Indian Hospital Corps (IHC).
The idea of re-organising the medical services into a separate Medical Corps exclusively for the Defence Services was first conceived in 1939 with the out break of World War II and with the formation of Indian Army Medical Corps in 1943, the extinction of the IMS as such was merely a matter of time. On 14 Aug 1947 the service was finally wound up.
________________________________________
Indian Medical Department
The history of the Indian Medical Department (IMD) dates back to 19th century. Initially starting as compounders and dressers in the three Presidency Medical Services they became Sub Surgeons and later on as Indian Medical Assistants in Indian Regiments. In 1868, they were redesignated as Hospital Assistants. In 1900, the Senior Hospital Assistants were granted the rank of Viceroy’s Commissioned Officers and in 1910 the designation was finally changed to Sub Assistant Surgeons of IMD. They were primarily for work with the Indian troops.
________________________________________
Indian Hospital Corps
The Indian Hospital Corps was formed on 01 June 1920 by combining the Army Hospital Corps and Army Bearer Corps and the subordinate personnel of Indian Station Hospitals, comprising persons of categories then considered necessary for hospitals, field ambulances and other medical units.
________________________________________
Army Hospital Corps
In the days of the East India Company there were no regular formations or units charged with the task of looking after the health of troops. In 1881 the British Regimental Hospitals gave way to British Station Hospitals and they needed subordinate persons. So in 1981, the Army Hospital Native Corps was formed of menials of the disbanded British Regimental Hospitals, Compounders, dressers, ward coolies, barbers, shop coolies, cooks, bhistis and sweepers and were designated as, Hospital Attendants. With the abolition of the Presidency Armies by the Government and the evolution of the Army into 10 Divisions, the Army Hospital Native Corps was re-organised into 10 Companies as Army Hospital Corps.
________________________________________
Army Bearer Corps
It was not until 1901 that the necessity for a proper corps of bearers was accepted by the Government and in this year, Dooly Bearers and Kahars were enlisted in the newly formed Army Bearer Corps, which came under the Medical Department. The Army Hospital Corps persons did the menial service in British Station Hospitals and the Army Bearer Corps provided persons for the carriage of the sick and wounded. In 1903, the Army Bearer Corps was re-organised into 10 Division Companies and the duties of these Companies in war were to carry stretchers and doolies, and in peace for general work in hospital.
________________________________________
Station Hospitals
Indian troops had no station hospital facilities until 1918, and had to depend entirely on their regimental hospitals. In October 1918, Station Hospitals for Indian troops were sanctioned. Ward orderlies and followers came from Army Hospital Corps and bearers were provided by the Army Bearer Corps.
The IHC initially was divided into 10 Division Companies corresponding to the 10 existing Military Divisions in India and Burma and they were located at Peshwar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Quetta, Mhow, Poona, Meerut, Lucknow, Secunderabad and Rangoon. The whole corps was re-organised on command basis during the year 1929-32 and thus there were five companies of the IHC in 1932, No 1 Company at Rawalpindi, No 2 Company at Lucknow, No 3 Company at Poona. No 4 Company at Quetta and No 5 Company at Rangoon. On separation of Burma in 1935, No 5 Company of IHC was formed as Burma Hospital Corps and this left four companies of IHC.
________________________________________
Indian Army Medical Corps
World War II was responsible for rapid developments. The idea of having a homogeneous corps by amalgamating IMS, IMD gradually took shape and Indian Army Medical Corps (IAMC) came into being on 03 Apr 1943. On the formation of the IAMC, the IHC HQs at Poona became the Administrative Headquarters of the IAMC in May 1943.
After Independence of the country, the Corps has made a steady progress. The men enjoy combatant status. The post of Director General Armed Forces Medical Services was created in 1949 as coordinating head of the med services of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
________________________________________
Army Medical Corps
The IAMC was re-designated as Army Medical Corps with effect from 26 Jan 1950.
________________________________________
AMC FLAG COLOURS ADOPTED IN 1944 BY IAMC AND RETAINED BY AMC IN 1953.The AMC Flag has the following colours and width of horizontal stripes: -
Colour Flag 3’ x 2’ Flag 6’ x 4’
Top Dull Cherry 11" 22"
Middle Black 2" 4"
Bottom Old Gold 11" 22"
The flags are required to be made of bunting cloth. The flag is flown in two sizes, flag 3’ x 2’ with flag mast 15' high and flag 6’ x 4’ with mast 20’ (or more). The colours were adopted by the Indian Army Med Corps in 1944, as representative of the three amalgamated components. Later, in 1953, the Army Medical Corps retained the colours for the Corps flag.
The three Colours are representative and symbolic of : -
DULL CHERRY: This has historical importance as being the distinguished colour of the Royal Army Medical Corps and Medical Services of many other countries. It is associated with positive health, succor and freedom from diseases.
BLACK : It was the corps colour of Indian Hospital Corps. It is associated with formless state of creating birth and death.
OLD GOLD: This is representative of Indian Medical Services which existed in India before 1943. The colour is symbolic of Sun God AESCULAPIUS, the God of Medicine.
________________________________________
Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
TRAINING INSTITUTIONS
Medical, Dental, Nursing and Para-medical personnel of Armed Forces Medical Services are trained in own institutions of repute.
In Dec 1941 in IHC-VCOs and NCOs school was established with No 3 Indian Hospital Corps Battalion in Pune which later evolved into the Army Med Training Centre (AMTC) in Jan 1942. The AMTC was the forerunner of the present Armed Forces Medical College at Pune, which was raised on 01 May 1948. The college started its under-graduate wing on 04 Aug 1962.
The Armed Forces Medical College, Pune is a premier medical institution responsible for training under-graduate and postgraduate doctors. The selection of under-graduate students is done on basis of an open All India Entrance Examination. In addition, a number of military hospitals have also been recognised for imparting postgraduate training and are affiliated to various universities. The training of Nursing Officers is conducted at College of Nursing, Pune for BSc Nursing and various Nursing Schools for Diploma in Nursing. The training of para medical staff is conducted at Army Medical Corps Centre and School Lucknow, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune and various Military Hospitals. In addition Officers’ Training School, Lucknow, imparts training to Medical Officers, Nursing Officers and Non-Technical Officers in Military Science, Military Medicine, general administration and so on.
A continuous and systematic upgradation of training is conducted for the para medical staff to ensure career prospects and rehabilitation in civil after retirement. The other ranks are given adequate opportunities to be selected as officers through Army Cadet College, Indian Military Academy. The JCOs and other ranks are also given opportunities to be commissioned in the AMC (Non-Technical) cadre through the Service Selection Board.
________________________________________
AMC Centre and School, Lucknow
It has originated from No.2 Company of Indian Hospital Corps (IHC). In May 1941, the until was enlarged and reorganised as No.2 Indian Hosp Corps Battalion. In 1942, the battalion was re-designated as No.2 Training and Depot Centre when the training facilities of the unit were enlarged and in Feb 1947, it was re-designated as Indian Army Medical Corps Centre (North). The designation of Army Medical Corps Centre (North) was given in 1950. No.3 Company of IHC was enlarged and reorganised into No 3 Battalion of IHC which was subsequently re-designated as Indian Army Medical Corps Centre (South) in 1947 and later on Army Medical Corps Centre (South).
Army Medical Corps Centre, Lucknow was formed as a result of amalgamation of AMC Centre (North) with AMC Centre (South) in 1957. Due to the large scale invasion of the Indian Territory by the Chinese during Sep 1962 and the decision of the Govt of India to increase the strength of the Armed Forces, the necessity arose for an Additional Centre for AMC. Consequently Army Medical Corps Centre (South) was established at Hyderabad in Dec 1962. The Centre at Lucknow was re-designated as Army Medical Corps Centre (North).
Both the centers at Lucknow and Hyderabad have been reorganised in Jan 1963 in that the Training Battalions have been split into Military Training and Technical Training Battalions. In 1967 AMC Centre (South) was merged with AMC Centre (North) to form the AMC Centre, Lucknow. With the increase in scope of training of Officers of the Corps, both tech and non tech, the officer training wing of the AMC Centre was reorganised as Officers Training School and became a category ‘A’ establishment on 09 Aug 1969. Consequently the AMC Centre was re-designated as AMC Centre and School.
________________________________________
LIST OF GOVT APPROVED CIVIL HOSPITAL FOR SPECIALISED TREATMENT
SERVICE PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES
Advanced Cardiovascular Treatment
• PGI, Chandigarh
• KEM Hospital, Mumbai
• Bombay Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Mumbai.
• Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai
• CMC Vellore (Tamil Nadu)
• Southern Railway Hospital, Perambur (Tamil Nadu)
• AIIMS, New Delhi.
• GB Pant Hospital, New Delhi.
• Apollo Hospital, Chennai.
• Batra Hospital, New Delhi.
• National Heart Instt, New Delhi.
• Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune.
• Escorts Heart Instt, New Delhi.
• Madras Medical Mission, Chennai.
• Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad.
• BM Birla Heart Research Centre, Calcutta.
• Medwin Hospital, Hyderabad.
• Wockhardt Hospital, Bangalore.
• Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.
• Manipal Heart Foundation, Bangalore.
Kidney Transplantation
• PGI, Chandigarh
• AIIMS, New Delhi
• Christian Medical College, Vellore (Tamil Nadu).
• Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai.
• Apollo Hospital, Chennai.
________________________________________
cont........
Army Medical Corps
(Sarve Santu Niramyah)
"may all be disease-free"
________________________________________
HISTORY OF ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
Introduction
Very little is known of the medical organisations that existed in the various Armies in this country in the ancient times. However, Kautilya’s Arthashastra shows that during battles, physicians with surgical instruments (Sastra, medicines and drugs in their hands besides women with prepared food and beverages) used to stand behind the fighting men. Similarly, from Sushruta Samhita, it is seen that a physician fully equipped with Medicines would live in a camp not remote from the royal pavilion and there the persons wounded by arrows and other war projectiles, or those who had imbibed poison used to be treated. A physician in the King’s service used to adopt certain measures to protect the life of his royal highness from secret poisoning. The physician well versed in technical sciences and with knowledge of other allied branches of study was held in high esteem by the King and others.
The Army Medical Corps came into existence as a homogeneous corps of officers and men on the pattern of the Royal Army Medical Corps on 03 Apr 1943 by the amalgamation of the Indian Medical Service, the Indian Medical Department and the Indian Hospital Corps. The Corps was formed as a wartime necessity for attracting suitably qualified men for service in a rapidly expanding army.
________________________________________
Indian Medical Service
The history of the Indian Medical Service (IMS) dates back to 1612 when on the formation of the East India Company into a joint stock business, the Company appointed John Woodall as their first Surgeon General. Under him, medical Corps officers (mainly civilians) were recruited more or less on individual contracts. The company expanded activities in various part of the country which necessitated the formation and maintenance of regular bodies of troops in India. As a consequence, they commenced employing Military Surgeons from 1745 onwards. It was not until 1764 that these Surgeons were made into regular establishment of the company’s armies. Thus the Bengal Medical Service was formed in 1764, the Madras Medical Service in 1767 and the Bombay Medical Service in 1779 for the three Presidency Armies of Bengal, Madras and Bombay respectively. Three medical services were in due course combined into one Indian Medical Services (IMS) in Apr 1886 under a Surgeon General to the Govt of India. The designation was later changed into the Director General, Indian Medical Service. In 1913, the appointment was designated as the Director of Medical Services in India.
Until the First Word War the IMS was pre-dominantly civil in character, but gradually from 1912 onwards those employed in civil duties became less and less in number. Indianisation of this service commenced from 1915 onwards. Sarjoo Coomar Goodeve Chauckerbutty was the first Indian to enter the service as Assistant Surgeon on 24 Jan 1855.
Until Burma was separated in 1935, the IMS was catering for the civil and military needs of Burma also. During this period, the IMS was assisted by the members of the Indian Medical Department (IMD) and Indian Hospital Corps (IHC).
The idea of re-organising the medical services into a separate Medical Corps exclusively for the Defence Services was first conceived in 1939 with the out break of World War II and with the formation of Indian Army Medical Corps in 1943, the extinction of the IMS as such was merely a matter of time. On 14 Aug 1947 the service was finally wound up.
________________________________________
Indian Medical Department
The history of the Indian Medical Department (IMD) dates back to 19th century. Initially starting as compounders and dressers in the three Presidency Medical Services they became Sub Surgeons and later on as Indian Medical Assistants in Indian Regiments. In 1868, they were redesignated as Hospital Assistants. In 1900, the Senior Hospital Assistants were granted the rank of Viceroy’s Commissioned Officers and in 1910 the designation was finally changed to Sub Assistant Surgeons of IMD. They were primarily for work with the Indian troops.
________________________________________
Indian Hospital Corps
The Indian Hospital Corps was formed on 01 June 1920 by combining the Army Hospital Corps and Army Bearer Corps and the subordinate personnel of Indian Station Hospitals, comprising persons of categories then considered necessary for hospitals, field ambulances and other medical units.
________________________________________
Army Hospital Corps
In the days of the East India Company there were no regular formations or units charged with the task of looking after the health of troops. In 1881 the British Regimental Hospitals gave way to British Station Hospitals and they needed subordinate persons. So in 1981, the Army Hospital Native Corps was formed of menials of the disbanded British Regimental Hospitals, Compounders, dressers, ward coolies, barbers, shop coolies, cooks, bhistis and sweepers and were designated as, Hospital Attendants. With the abolition of the Presidency Armies by the Government and the evolution of the Army into 10 Divisions, the Army Hospital Native Corps was re-organised into 10 Companies as Army Hospital Corps.
________________________________________
Army Bearer Corps
It was not until 1901 that the necessity for a proper corps of bearers was accepted by the Government and in this year, Dooly Bearers and Kahars were enlisted in the newly formed Army Bearer Corps, which came under the Medical Department. The Army Hospital Corps persons did the menial service in British Station Hospitals and the Army Bearer Corps provided persons for the carriage of the sick and wounded. In 1903, the Army Bearer Corps was re-organised into 10 Division Companies and the duties of these Companies in war were to carry stretchers and doolies, and in peace for general work in hospital.
________________________________________
Station Hospitals
Indian troops had no station hospital facilities until 1918, and had to depend entirely on their regimental hospitals. In October 1918, Station Hospitals for Indian troops were sanctioned. Ward orderlies and followers came from Army Hospital Corps and bearers were provided by the Army Bearer Corps.
The IHC initially was divided into 10 Division Companies corresponding to the 10 existing Military Divisions in India and Burma and they were located at Peshwar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Quetta, Mhow, Poona, Meerut, Lucknow, Secunderabad and Rangoon. The whole corps was re-organised on command basis during the year 1929-32 and thus there were five companies of the IHC in 1932, No 1 Company at Rawalpindi, No 2 Company at Lucknow, No 3 Company at Poona. No 4 Company at Quetta and No 5 Company at Rangoon. On separation of Burma in 1935, No 5 Company of IHC was formed as Burma Hospital Corps and this left four companies of IHC.
________________________________________
Indian Army Medical Corps
World War II was responsible for rapid developments. The idea of having a homogeneous corps by amalgamating IMS, IMD gradually took shape and Indian Army Medical Corps (IAMC) came into being on 03 Apr 1943. On the formation of the IAMC, the IHC HQs at Poona became the Administrative Headquarters of the IAMC in May 1943.
After Independence of the country, the Corps has made a steady progress. The men enjoy combatant status. The post of Director General Armed Forces Medical Services was created in 1949 as coordinating head of the med services of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
________________________________________
Army Medical Corps
The IAMC was re-designated as Army Medical Corps with effect from 26 Jan 1950.
________________________________________
AMC FLAG COLOURS ADOPTED IN 1944 BY IAMC AND RETAINED BY AMC IN 1953.The AMC Flag has the following colours and width of horizontal stripes: -
Colour Flag 3’ x 2’ Flag 6’ x 4’
Top Dull Cherry 11" 22"
Middle Black 2" 4"
Bottom Old Gold 11" 22"
The flags are required to be made of bunting cloth. The flag is flown in two sizes, flag 3’ x 2’ with flag mast 15' high and flag 6’ x 4’ with mast 20’ (or more). The colours were adopted by the Indian Army Med Corps in 1944, as representative of the three amalgamated components. Later, in 1953, the Army Medical Corps retained the colours for the Corps flag.
The three Colours are representative and symbolic of : -
DULL CHERRY: This has historical importance as being the distinguished colour of the Royal Army Medical Corps and Medical Services of many other countries. It is associated with positive health, succor and freedom from diseases.
BLACK : It was the corps colour of Indian Hospital Corps. It is associated with formless state of creating birth and death.
OLD GOLD: This is representative of Indian Medical Services which existed in India before 1943. The colour is symbolic of Sun God AESCULAPIUS, the God of Medicine.
________________________________________
Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
TRAINING INSTITUTIONS
Medical, Dental, Nursing and Para-medical personnel of Armed Forces Medical Services are trained in own institutions of repute.
In Dec 1941 in IHC-VCOs and NCOs school was established with No 3 Indian Hospital Corps Battalion in Pune which later evolved into the Army Med Training Centre (AMTC) in Jan 1942. The AMTC was the forerunner of the present Armed Forces Medical College at Pune, which was raised on 01 May 1948. The college started its under-graduate wing on 04 Aug 1962.
The Armed Forces Medical College, Pune is a premier medical institution responsible for training under-graduate and postgraduate doctors. The selection of under-graduate students is done on basis of an open All India Entrance Examination. In addition, a number of military hospitals have also been recognised for imparting postgraduate training and are affiliated to various universities. The training of Nursing Officers is conducted at College of Nursing, Pune for BSc Nursing and various Nursing Schools for Diploma in Nursing. The training of para medical staff is conducted at Army Medical Corps Centre and School Lucknow, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune and various Military Hospitals. In addition Officers’ Training School, Lucknow, imparts training to Medical Officers, Nursing Officers and Non-Technical Officers in Military Science, Military Medicine, general administration and so on.
A continuous and systematic upgradation of training is conducted for the para medical staff to ensure career prospects and rehabilitation in civil after retirement. The other ranks are given adequate opportunities to be selected as officers through Army Cadet College, Indian Military Academy. The JCOs and other ranks are also given opportunities to be commissioned in the AMC (Non-Technical) cadre through the Service Selection Board.
________________________________________
AMC Centre and School, Lucknow
It has originated from No.2 Company of Indian Hospital Corps (IHC). In May 1941, the until was enlarged and reorganised as No.2 Indian Hosp Corps Battalion. In 1942, the battalion was re-designated as No.2 Training and Depot Centre when the training facilities of the unit were enlarged and in Feb 1947, it was re-designated as Indian Army Medical Corps Centre (North). The designation of Army Medical Corps Centre (North) was given in 1950. No.3 Company of IHC was enlarged and reorganised into No 3 Battalion of IHC which was subsequently re-designated as Indian Army Medical Corps Centre (South) in 1947 and later on Army Medical Corps Centre (South).
Army Medical Corps Centre, Lucknow was formed as a result of amalgamation of AMC Centre (North) with AMC Centre (South) in 1957. Due to the large scale invasion of the Indian Territory by the Chinese during Sep 1962 and the decision of the Govt of India to increase the strength of the Armed Forces, the necessity arose for an Additional Centre for AMC. Consequently Army Medical Corps Centre (South) was established at Hyderabad in Dec 1962. The Centre at Lucknow was re-designated as Army Medical Corps Centre (North).
Both the centers at Lucknow and Hyderabad have been reorganised in Jan 1963 in that the Training Battalions have been split into Military Training and Technical Training Battalions. In 1967 AMC Centre (South) was merged with AMC Centre (North) to form the AMC Centre, Lucknow. With the increase in scope of training of Officers of the Corps, both tech and non tech, the officer training wing of the AMC Centre was reorganised as Officers Training School and became a category ‘A’ establishment on 09 Aug 1969. Consequently the AMC Centre was re-designated as AMC Centre and School.
________________________________________
LIST OF GOVT APPROVED CIVIL HOSPITAL FOR SPECIALISED TREATMENT
SERVICE PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES
Advanced Cardiovascular Treatment
• PGI, Chandigarh
• KEM Hospital, Mumbai
• Bombay Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Mumbai.
• Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai
• CMC Vellore (Tamil Nadu)
• Southern Railway Hospital, Perambur (Tamil Nadu)
• AIIMS, New Delhi.
• GB Pant Hospital, New Delhi.
• Apollo Hospital, Chennai.
• Batra Hospital, New Delhi.
• National Heart Instt, New Delhi.
• Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune.
• Escorts Heart Instt, New Delhi.
• Madras Medical Mission, Chennai.
• Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad.
• BM Birla Heart Research Centre, Calcutta.
• Medwin Hospital, Hyderabad.
• Wockhardt Hospital, Bangalore.
• Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.
• Manipal Heart Foundation, Bangalore.
Kidney Transplantation
• PGI, Chandigarh
• AIIMS, New Delhi
• Christian Medical College, Vellore (Tamil Nadu).
• Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai.
• Apollo Hospital, Chennai.
________________________________________
cont........