The Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) was set up in 1948 in the immediate post-world war period. On the recommendations of the BC Roy Committee, remnants of the Indian Army Medical Corps units were amalgamated into one unit to create the Armed Forces Medical College. Over the past 50 years, it has grown in its functions and has become one of the premier medical colleges of the country. Campus The College is located in Pune, a city with wonderful geographical location and a history steeped in political, educational and military traditions. Established almost four centuries ago the city of Pune has witnessed spectacular advancements while still retaining its ancient flavour and distinct character. The history of Pune is replete with legends of brave warriors, staunch patriots, artists, craftsmen and artisans of great talent, saints, sages and savants. It has been the seat of the Great Maratha power at one time and still remains a politically influential city. Surrounded by the Sahyadri mountain ranges, 2000 feet above mean sea level, Pune today is a centre for educational advancement, technological excellence and cultural exchange. it has often been called the educational capital of India. The location of various defence training and Research and Development establishments like the National Defence Academy (NDA), College of Military Engineering, Army School of Physical Training, Military Intelligence Training School, Army Institute of Technology of Armament Technology, Armament Research & Development Establishment, etc,.
College Building The college buildings are a quaint mixture of the old and the new. While the Dean's office and the undergraduate wing are located in old buildings dating back to 1876, the main college building was specially constructed in 1956. Its landscaped lawns and an imposing facade, houses the main administrative offices, the PG wing, major departments and the main library. The college has two large auditoria. A new building is being constructed to house 18 departments and will be completed by 1998. Many more new buildings are being constructed in Revised Master Plan and the college will become self sufficient and technical and residential accommodation besides all recreational facilities for students and staff. AFMC Library
The college has a well stocked library with over 18000 books. It subscribes to more than 270 international and national journals and has over 14000 bound journals. Library has SLIM software computerised information management system which allows immediate tracing and retrieval of any publication in library. Medline, an indexing and abstracting service covering over 3000 international journals, is also available on CD-ROM. The library is connected to PUNE-NET and INTER-NET through a dial up modern facility.
The Armed Forces Medical College has multiple roles to perform. These are primarily training of medical undergraduates and post-graduates, dental postgraduates, nursing cadets and paramedical staff. Patient care forms an integral part of its training curriculum and the attached hospitals benefits from the expertise available at AFMC. The institution is responsible for providing the entire pool of specialists and super specialists to Armed Forces by giving them in service training. Thus AFMC forms the backbone of high quality professional medical care being provided to the clientele, which in the ultimate analysis, affects considerable financial saving to the Government besides contributing largely to the morale of the fighting forces. The college is also involved in conducting research in various medical subjects as well as those aspects which would affect the morale and performance of the Armed Forces both in war and peace.
The AFMC is designated to train at any one time, a large number of officers, undergraduate students, student nurses, junior commissioned Officer (JCOs) and other ranks (ORs). Postgraduate Training Postgraduate (PG) training has been taken up since the inception of the College. All the courses are recognised by the University of Pune and Medical Council of India (MCI). PG degree courses run for duration of 3 years leading to the award of MD and MS degree for medical/surgical specialties and MD (HA) for hospital administration. PG diploma courses are of 2 years duration, leading to award of diploma in the concerned specialties. The specialties covered are : Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Preventive & Social Medicine, Opthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine, Physiology, Biochemistry, Anatomy, Pediatrics, Radiodiagnosis, Anesthesiology, TB & Chest Diseases, Psychiatry, Dermatology & Venereology, Orthopedics and Hospital Administration. In addition, post doctoral degrees are offered in the following specialties : DM degree in Cardiology and M Ch degree in Neurosurgery, Cardiothoracic surgery and Reconstructuve surgery. The college is also recognised for Ph.D. in many of the specialties as per the guidelines and approval of Pune University. Postgraduate dental courses are available in Prosthetic dentistry, Oral surgery, Periodontal surgery and Orthodontics. These dental courses are recognised by Bombay University leading to award of the MDS. degree. Graduate Wing The graduate wing of AFMC was established in August 1962. The aim of starting this wing was to increase the intake of medical graduates into the armed Forces. The graduate wing is affiliated to the University of Pune and is recognised by the Medical Council of India for conducting 4 years and 6 months teaching programme leading to MBBS degree. The first batch passed MBBS in Oct 1966. Admission to MBBS course are on the basis of an objective type written examination conducted in 28 centres across India. This is followed by an interview and then after the final selection, 130 students are admitted to the College. of these, 25 are girls. All these students are liable to serve in the medical services of the Armed Forces on successful completion of MBBS. In 1996, 51,000 candidates appeared for the entrance test and every year the number is rising substantially.
The college is fully residential with separate hostels for boys and girls. Residence in the hostels is mandatory for all the cadets for the entire duration of the course. The Boys Hostel is housed in a building which was built in 1965 and comprises of 13 blocks of 3 floors each. There are a total of 277 rooms of approximately 8 sq m area (single seaters) and 162 rooms of approximately 18.5 sq m area (double of triple seaters). All the rooms are fully furnished. The girl's hostel was constructed in 1984 and can accommodate 130 cadets in 70 single seater and 30 double seater rooms. A new Boys Hostel block is under construction. There are a total of five messes, four for boys and one for girls.l Free messing is provided to all medical cadets. This college is unique in many ways. It is the only medical college in Asia where all expenses are paid by the Government. Students receive free tuition, free lodging and boarding, uniforms, book subsidies and an allowance for upkeep of the uniforms. There are extensive facilities for sports, including tennis, squash, basketball and a swimming pool. An open air cinema hall screens two films a week within the college campus. Canteen facilities for defence personnel are also extended to the students. The teaching departments of AFMC are well staffed with dedicated staff members. Lectures, practical, demonstrations and clinics are well planned and conducted round the year except for 2 short vacations. Students in the clinical terms derive experience from the wards of the affiliated hospitals. The students of AFMC have always proved that they stand heads and shoulders above the others by producing consistently the best results in the University of Pune. AFMC provides broad based non-academic exposure too. Students are encouraged to participate in sports and many have excelled in this arena. There are a large number of societies and clubs like the Student Scientific Society, Hobbies Club, Debating Club, Adventure Club, Musimatics etc where students can pursue extra-academic interests. They are encouraged to participate in competitions and conferences all over the country for development of all round personality and office like qualities. They have also won many laurels in debates, quiz contests and youth festivals in Pune and outside. Over 4000 doctors have graduated from AFMC till now. Commissioning Ceremony On successfully passing the final MBBS examination, the students of AFMC are formally inducted into the Armed Forces Medical Services after an impressive commissioning ceremony which is held twice a year, in January and July. They are commissioned as officers in the rank of Lieutenant or equivalent in the Army, Navy or Air Force. To undergo the mandatory intemship training they are posted at various recognised service hospitals for one year. Thereafter, they are granted the rank of Captain in the Army or equivalent ranks in the Navy or Air Force. Nursing Training The Nursing College Wing or AFMC conducts a four years course for B.Sc. (Nursing) and a condensed two years course for post-certificate candidates to convert them to B.Sc. (Nursing), Sp. courses in OT/Ortho/Burns.
In-Services courses (Officers)
Regular refresher courses for servicing officers are conducted 2 to 3 times a year. Para-medical courses Professional training of nursing assistants, to convert them into specialised technicians for various departments, is the responsibility of this college. Twenty such courses are run by the college in a year. Research AFMC is continuously involved in conducting research. The various departments are very active in taking up research projects either under departmental sponsorship or under the auspices of Armed Forces Medical Research Committee (AFMRC). Apart from service oriented projects, research inclinical and laboratory subjects is also carried out. AFMC has the facility for animal house, hatcheries for disease producing insects, and a virology and bacteriology bank for these purposes. AFMC is a research and referral centre for confirmation of disease, identification of pathogens (viral and bacterial) and classification of blood disorders. AFMC acts as a referral centre, designated by WHO for certain diseases i.e. HIV-regional laboratory and centre for rickettsial diseases.
All the departments are staffed by qualified faculty members who are recognised teachers of Pune University and fulfill the requirements of MCI. The medical teachers are mainly Armed Forces specialist officers, selected by the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services and are posted to AFMC for tenure appointments of four years or more. Civilian faculty members are selected through UPSC, mainly in the pre clinical and para clinical subjects. All the departments are actively involved in teaching and training of undergraduate and post graduate students as well as providing services for patient care. Where as the department take lectures, tutorials and practical classes in AFMC, the clinical training is conducted at Command Hospital (CH) Southern Command (SC) Pune and other affiliated hospitals. Most of the staff members are recognised examiners of Pune University and other Universities. A number of faculty members are on the panel of MCI Inspectors. Medicine A Department of Medicine imparts clinical training to undergraduate and postgraduate students and provides patient care. Medical care is provided through outpatient clinics, indoor admissions and ICU care. The students and trainees can see a wide variety of medical disorders ranging from general medical patients to those suffering from disorders relating to cardiology, neurology, gastroenterology, nephrology, oncology, rheumatology, hematology, respiratory disorders and critical care. Facilities for specialised investigations and treatment are available in the affiliated hospitals. The patient load consists of service personnel, their dependants and civilians.
Pediatrics The practical training in pediatrics is imparted in a well equipped 90 bedded ward and a 8 bedded level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) which has facilities to look after very premature and low birth weight babies and provides them with advanced life support. The NICU is equipped with ventilator, incubator, pulse oximeter and other non-invasive monitoring devices. Psychiatry The Department of Psychiatry provides indoor & outdoor facilities for psychiatric disorders. The special services provided are, Child Guidance Clinic, ECT facilities, Biofeedback Equipment and Psychotherapists session.
Dermatology & Venereology This department is a major referral centre for skin disorders, leprosy, sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS patients. Surgery Department of surgery and the allied specialised branches carry out a wide variety of surgical work. It includes general surgery of very high order including correction of complex congenital anomalies, operations for portal hypertension, gastrointestinal malignancies, vascular and microvascular surgery, spinal and cranial surgery and open heart surgery. A well planned and fully equipped experimental animal operation theatre provides facilities for surgical research, experimental work and hands on training to postgraduate students on performing common surgical procedures on animals. Continuing medical education is an essential academic aspects of the professional activities of the department.
Orthopedics The department of Orthopedics provides facilities for treatment of orthopedic problems including total hip and knee joint replacement, arthoscopic facilities, internal fixation implants, external fixtures etc. Obstetrics & Gynaecology The Department provides obstetrical and gynecological services to CH (SC) and Cantonment General Hospital. Regular antenatal and postnatal clinics are run by the department with facilities for ultrasound and electronic foetal monitoring. Special gynecological services include microtubal surgery, laparoscopic video-endoscopy besides conventional surgery.
Ophthalmology A variety of eye disorders are treated regularly. Facilities to carry out routine eye operations, keratoplasty, intraocular lens implantation are available. Regular eye camps are held both in Pune and outside. Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) The Department provides facilities for ENT disorders including operative facilities. Microsurgery, flexible fibreoptic endoscopy and surgery of head & neck malignancies is routinely carried out. Cochlear Implant programme for total deafnes patients is available and being offered for needy patients.
Anesthesiology All surgical and allied disciplines operate in hospital of the AFMC complex. There are a total of 22 operation theatres. The anaesthetic cover to all the units is provided by the anesthesiologists of the AFMC complex. Al theatres are centrally air conditioned and possess the ancillary facilities. Radiology This Department imparts training in conventional X Rays, ultrasonography, CT Scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It has a collection of more than 20,000 films illustrating clinically interesting conditions also houses a x-ray museum exhibiting the development of technology through ages to the present state of the art. Preventive & Social Medicine (PSM) The department is active in providing theoretical and practical experience in PSM, both in urban and rural settings. Specialised wings include, entomology and parasitology, epidemiology, biostatistics, occupational health and public health chemistry. An excellent museum has been developed by the department providing an opportunity for students, faculty members and visiting fellows to visualise the multiple facets of the specialty ranging from insect control to preventive measures required in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare.
Pathology The department of Pathology has facilities for diagnostic histopathology, electron microscopy, immunohisto chemistry, cytology and haematology services. There is an ICMR collaborating centre and department also maintains Tumor registry for Armed Forces. It is one of the few centres in the country having an electron microscope, which is used for ultra structural studies. This department also has a well equipped mortuary for preservation of dead bodies and a large number of medical autopsies are conducted. The Command Pathology Lab (SC) Pune is affiliated to the department and actively participates in the training of postgraduate students.
Blood Transfusion The department runs a regional blood bank for service hospitals located in Pune-Kirkee-Khadakwasla complex. On an average about 6000 units of blood are collected annually and issued to these hospitals either as whole blood or as blood components. Units of blood not used within 25 days are used as source for the manufacture of human plasma. The blood bank also prepares and provides various blood components like washed RBCs, platelet concentrates and leukocyte preparations. Parenteral fluids are also manufactured by the department and supplied to dependant units. Microbiology Department of Microbiology provides microbiological diagnostic facilities to the CH(SC) and also performs referral work for all service hospitals in India. Its equipment includes laminar flow cabinets, BOD incubators, refrigerated centrifuge, fluorescent microscope, colony counter, anaerobic work station, tissue homogenisers, CO2 incubator, and Elisa reader. Viral studies, viral cultures and polymerase chain reaction are carried out for diagnostic purposes, Immunology section provides support for diagnosis of infectious and auto immune diseases. Dept is also functioning on zonal HIV sub surveillance centre. Forensic Medicine This department trains the undergraduate students in medical jurisprudence, forensic medicine, and toxicology. The students attend medicolegal autopsies and are introducted to problems pertaining to medicolegal homicide, unnatural deaths, accidents, rape, disputed paternity, poisoning and other complex issues relating to the medico-legal aspects of medicine. A museum with illustrative and rare exhibits is available for study and perusal. Pharmacology The department trains the undergraduate students in the basic principle governing the use of drugs, thus allowing a rational use of medication. Animal experiments are used in showing the effects of drugs on analgesia, anticonvulsant drugs, anaesthetic agents, muscle relaxants, antiarryhythmic drugs, antihistaminics, etc to students.
Biochemistry The department is organised into postgraduate wing cum clinical chemistry and undergraduate biochemistry wing. The clinical chemistry laboratory provides laboratory services to CH (SC). It is also a referral laboratory and caters for specialised clinical chemistry investigations for the entire Armed Forces. This department is one of the 40 participants of WHO quality assurance programme and has the distinction of excellent performance in the past five years. In turn, it is conducted external quality control programme for Armed Forces laboratories. The department is well equipped with modern laboratory instruments such as spectrophotometer, spectra flurimeter, semi auto analyser, chromatography and electrophoretic equipment.
Physiology The department teaches the fresh entrants into medical college about the functions of the human body and intricate inter-relationships of the various organ systems. it also trains dental postgraduates and paramedical staff. A heat chamber is available for conducting research on the effects of varying temperature and humidity,. with practical application for the Armed Forces. A 'TILT TABLE' and 'Lower Body Negative Pressure' facility allows research on weightlessness and space related studies. This department provides the nucleus for computerisation in AFMC and is presently developing a data acquisition system for the college. Anatomy This department performs the difficult task of introducing the fresh undergraduate students into the complex anatomy and structure of the human body, through lectures, tutorials, practical experiments, dissections and use of museum facilities. The anatomy museum has a large collection of specimens of osteology, gross anatomy and embryology. At present in conformity with the latest advances in imaging techniques and emphasis on CT, a section on cross sectional anatomy is being added so that the students can correlate the CT with the actual anatomy. The foundations of human anatomy are thus laid in this preclinical department allowing a smooth transition into the paraclinical & clinical years.
This department was established on 1st August 1975. AFMC was the second institution in India to start a department of Hospital Administration, after the AIIMS, New Delhi, and can rightly be considered a pioneer in this field. It conducts a 3 years degree course in Hospital administration and also conducts short term courses for officers during the Medical Officers Junior Command Course as well as for B.Sc. Nursing students. Thus it makes the Armed Forces Medical Services unique in having a core of specially trained hospital administrators who provide professional management to the Armed Forces Hospitals. Dental Surgery Department of dental surgery was established in May 1955. The advanced specialist courses leading to MDS degree of Bombay University were introduced in 1967. The advanced course conducted are in the specialties of oral surgery, prostetics, periuodontia and orthodontia. The facilities of Command Military Central Centre (CMDC) Pune are also utilised for training the dental officers undergoing the post graduate course. The training of paradental staff like Dental Operating Room Assistant (DORA), Dental Hygienist and Dental Technician was started first time in the country by this Department. Affiliated Hospitals The teaching hospitals of AFMC are all major referral centres of the Armed Forces. They cater to the service personnel and their dependents, many of whom are referred from peripheral or zonal hospitals. In addition, civilian patients are also authorised treatment. Thus wide spectrum of diseases is seen in hospital of the AFMC complex. The AFMC staff work in these hospitals to provide their expertise for clinical care and teaching. In turn, the staff posted to the affiliated hospitals actively participate in the teaching, research and academic activities of AFMC. Many staff members of the affiliated hospitals are recognised teachers and examiners of Pune University and other Universities.
Command Hospital (Southern Command) This is the largest hospital of Armed Forces. It is tertiary referral centre of the Armed Forces. It is also authorised 200 Civilian Beds to provide indoor treatment to civilians. All the major speciality and sub-speciality facilities are available here. The malignant diseases treatment centre (MDTC) for the Armed Forces personnel is also located in CH (SC), providing medical, surgical and radiation therapy to cancer patients. Facilities are available for kidney transplantation, neurosurgery, reconstructive surgery, paediatric surgery, microtubal surgery for infertility and laparoscopy. Other subspeciality services include cardiology, neurology, gastro - enterology with video endoscopy facilities, nephrology with dialysis centre, endocrinology, and an excellent radiology department with ultrasonography and CT scan equipment. Military Hospital (Cardio Thoracic Centre) The Military Hospital (Cardio thoracic centre) is the major Armed Forces centre providing both medical and surgical treatment for cardiac and respiratory disorders. The cardiology department has state of the art equipment with the latest cardiac catheterisation laboratory and a 2D echocardiography machine with colour flow mapping and transoesophageal probe. The centre is active in interventional cardiology. It performs coronary angiography, mitral valve balloon valvuloplasty, coronary angioplasty and dilatation of other vascular stenosis. The respiratory centre manages a wide variety of pulmonary disorders ranging from tuberculosis to thoracic tumors. The Department of cardiothoracic surgery including open heart operations. Artificial Limb Centre The Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) was raised with the primary object of meeting the prosthetic/orthotic needs of disabled personnel of the Armed Forces. Since 1951 these facilities have been extended to civilians also. It is a unique institution where comprehensive total care to the disabled is provided under one roof by a combined team approach consisting of the surgeon, engineer, limb maker, limb fitter, physiotherapist, occupational therapist and medical social worker. Military Hospital (Kirkee) Military Hospital Kirkee is a Garrison hospital situated in Kirkee catering to the local troops and families. The specialised departments here are the orthopaedic centre, spinal cord centre and joint replacement centre. A unique institution, the Paraplegic Home, is part of this complex and provides complete facilities for the rehabilitation of paraplegic patient. Another institute Queen Mary's Technical Institute is also located in the Complex and is providing an essential rehabilitation training to paraplegics and other amputees.
The College has set up a Cell for training of teaching staff in teaching methodology and evaluation. This Teacher's Training Cell is headed by the Dean, and consists of three other members of different departments. The Cell aims to impart training in educational science to the newly posted teaching staff of AFMC and affiliated hospitals. It conducts micro-teaching sessions for all the staff members in order to develop teaching skills and provide feedback to the teacher. A larger number of the faculty members have been sponsored to attend workshops, seminars and courses in teaching technology at other recognised centres in India. The cell also conducts update sessions on teaching methodology at AFMC, where eminent educationists are invited to deliver guest lecture and interact with the medical teachers of the AFMC complex.
Continuing Medical Education (CME) CME is an essential academic aspect of the professional activities of each department who are organising these programmes for the military and civilian doctors of Pune and neighboring areas. On average one update every month is being organised with guest speakers from centres of excellence. In each update, large number of delegates participate. Medical Journal Armed Forces of India Medical Journal Armed Forces of India (MJAFI) is a professional journal sponsored by the Armed Forces Medical Services and published by the AFMC. The editorial board at AFMC brings out this multi-disciplinary journal which aims to provide a forum for medical officers of the Armed Forces as well as their professional counterparts in civil. The journal is distributed to all medical officers and medical units of the Armed Forces, as well as several Medical colleges and libraries in India and abroad. it is index in the Extra MED (a WHO venture) and also appears in it's full text form in the CD Rom. In 1994 it brought out Golden Jubilee issue to celebrate its 50th year of publication.
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