Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh on 06 April 2026 laid the foundation stones of Ophthalmology, Oncology and Joint Replacement Centres at Army Hospital (Research & Referral) and new infrastructure at Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt as part of the 262nd Army Medical Corps (AMC) Raising Day celebrations. The state-of-the-art centres at Army Hospital (R&R) are envisaged to significantly enhance tertiary care capabilities of the Armed Forces Medical Services in advanced eye care, cancer treatment and complex joint replacement surgeries for serving personnel, veterans and their dependents. The new Base Hospital infrastructure is being developed with 998 beds along with an additional 100 crisis expansion beds to address routine and emergency healthcare requirements of Defence Forces personnel. In his address, the Raksha Mantri underlined the importance of innovation, capacity building and integration of modern technologies to meet emerging challenges in military medicine. He exhorted AFMS to focus on research in cancer early-detection and personalised medicine, where several countries are ahead of India, and called for advanced predictive models for cardiovascular disease and mental-health neuro-research. He urged self-reliance in pharmaceuticals, moving beyond generic production to innovation-driven drug discovery, robust clinical research, global quality standards, integration of MSMEs and start-ups, strong testing infrastructure and a skilled workforce. He also pitched for reforms in the clinical trial framework and for creating standardised SOPs so clinical experience is disseminated across doctors and hospitals, alongside a national-level data pool for evidence-based policy. Shri Rajnath Singh termed military medical services in India and neighbouring nations including Nepal, where AFMS has conducted cataract and glaucoma surgeries, as a powerful testament to India's soft power.