The Raksha Mantri Trophy for the Best and Second Best Command Hospitals of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for the year 2022 was presented by Lt Gen Daljit Singh, Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) and Senior Colonel Commandant of the Army Medical Corps, on March 19, 2024, in New Delhi. Command Hospital (Southern Command) in Pune and Command Hospital (Central Command) in Lucknow were recognized as the Best and Second Best Command Hospitals for the year 2022, respectively.
During the ceremony, DGAFMS praised the exceptional performance of both hospitals and highlighted the commendable services offered by the AFMS. These services range from providing medical support to troops deployed in operational roles to delivering state-of-the-art healthcare services at mid-zonal, zonal, and tertiary care hospitals of the AFMS. Lt Gen Daljit Singh underscored the AFMS’s readiness to tackle various challenges, whether during operations, peacetime, or humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. He reiterated the AFMS’s unwavering commitment to achieving professional excellence at all times.
Furthermore, DGAFMS announced that starting from 2023, the Army Institute of Cardio-Thoracic Sciences (AICTS) in Pune and Base Hospital Delhi Cantt will also participate in the competition. The award ceremony was attended by several senior officials, including the Directors General of Medical Services (DGsMS), the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Medical), the Director General of Organization & Personnel of the AFMS, the Director General of Health Services (Air Force), senior medical consultants, and other personnel from HQ Delhi Area.
Established in 1989, the Raksha Mantri Trophy aims to acknowledge excellence in healthcare services provided by Armed Forces Hospitals of the AFMS and promote healthy competition among them. A selection committee led by an AFMS officer of the rank of Lt Gen or equivalent recommends hospitals for the award each year based on comprehensive selection criteria and objective performance indicators assessed during on-site visits.
