The Indian Armed Forces Medical Service is strengthening its offerings digital capabilities to address pressing health challenges for soldiers and their families.
Since the beginning of the year, it has entered into multiple research collaborations with the Indian Institute of Technology in Hyderabad, Delhi, Kanpur and Roorkee to develop digital technologies, particularly AI diagnostic models and medical devices for remote care.
Through these partnerships, it is also exploring the apply of robotics and nanotechnology in the delivery of healthcare and enabling patient transport using drones.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces Medical Academy, Pune, the premier training institution of AFMS, has emerged as a pilot site for telehealth collaboration between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. For two years, a special cell of Tele-MANAS, the nationwide telemedicine hotline of the Ministry of Health, will operate, which will provide armed forces personnel and their families with 24-hour access to psychiatric care.
In addition, AFMS and the Indian Council of Medical Research have ongoing research collaborations focusing on the health impacts of high altitude environments, post-traumatic and battle-related stress disorder, aerospace medicine, infectious diseases and other health issues faced by military personnel . service members.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT
The Indian Army is committed to modernizing it, declaring 2024 the “Year of Technology Absorption”. There was a realization that technology had become the driving force behind newfangled warfare.
In addition to developing its technological capabilities in defense and warfare, it is also modernizing the provision of health care services armed forces personnel who are increasingly decultivated in mountain regions. Much remains to be done in understanding and treating diverse and common problemsAFMS noted that Soldiers encounter complicated health issues during their deployments, emphasizing the importance of its latest research partnerships.
A BIGGER TREND
Military forces across the Asia-Pacific region have also initiated projects to modernize healthcare delivery.
The Australian Defense Force is undergoing a multi-year modernization of its digital health system. In 2022, the awards included: The Leidos-led consortium contracted to deliver a range of technologies, including EMR, telehealth, e-prescribing, practice management, e-referral, clinical decision support, artificial intelligence and data analytics, through 2028.
Military hospitals in the Philippines and Uzbekistan have recently been integrated Lunit’s artificial intelligence solution for chest X-ray screening to improve lung disease detection. The same solution was also used on the ROKS Yangmanchun destroyer, stationed in the Gulf of Aden, belonging to the Korean Navy.
Earlier this year, the Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps launched an improved EMR system. Works on both Sunrise EMR and Altera Opal, Patient Care Enhancement System 3 allows Soldiers to access their medical history and manage and book medical appointments. The system is now also connected to Singapore’s national EHR system.