Lt Gen Bipin Puri took over as the Director General Armed Forces Medical Service (DGAFMS) on November 1, 2017. An alumnus of Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) , Pune, he was commissioned into the Indian Army Medical Corps (AMC) on March 30, 1979. He spoke to Nadeem Inamdar on the challenges and strategies of the armed forces medical service.
On the importance of armed forces medical conference
It is a forum for planning, evaluation and implementation not only of research but also innovations in healthcare to meet the current and emerging needs of the Armed Forces. This year, we are focussing our attention on devising systems and strategies aimed at developing and sustaining high quality research and inter-institutional collaborative efforts in the field of medical science. For the current year , we have introduced a workshop on research methodology and to improve awareness of newer universally accepted methods of scientific research to assimilate knowledge gained through research projects. Similarly, artificial intelligence and robotics in military services will play a very important role in the coming years.
On DNA profiling centre and repository at AFMC
We are collecting DNA samples of Armed Forces personnel in a phased manner, starting with those in the high risk group and have identified personnel who are in priority. Till date over 7,000 samples have been stored in the Armed Forces DNA Repository at AFMC, Pune, which is the first one of its kind in India. We have trained over 170 medical officers and the entire programme is being implemented in a time bound manner. During 2017, stored DNA samples have been used to successfully establish the identity of deceased IAF personnel in two cases.
{{/usCountry}}We are collecting DNA samples of Armed Forces personnel in a phased manner, starting with those in the high risk group and have identified personnel who are in priority. Till date over 7,000 samples have been stored in the Armed Forces DNA Repository at AFMC, Pune, which is the first one of its kind in India. We have trained over 170 medical officers and the entire programme is being implemented in a time bound manner. During 2017, stored DNA samples have been used to successfully establish the identity of deceased IAF personnel in two cases.
{{/usCountry}}On the future multi-national disaster management exercise.
During 2019, we are planning to conduct a multi-national disaster management exercise at Lucknow, to enhance our level of preparedness to face any natural or man- made disaster. It is a mega military exercise involving participation of Association of South East Asian (ASEAN )countries.