In an effort to further strengthen the Quad combine and ties with the US in the Indo-Pacific region, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said here the idea of Indo-Pacific reflects the sentiment of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family).
He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore in 2018 where he had said “The Indo-Pacific stands for a free, open, inclusive region, which embraces all in a common pursuit of progress and prosperity.
It includes all nations in this geography as also others beyond who have a stake in it.”
This sentiment, Rajnath said, is best exemplified by the contribution of the medical profession that has universally been considered noble. He made these observations while virtually inaugurating the four-day Indo-Pacific Military Health Exchange (IPMHE) conference co-hosted by Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM).
Rajnath described medical service as an important pillar for any military, saying in addition to their own combat-related duties, they are the most valuable second responders in times of natural and man-made calamities and crises and are in a perpetual state of readiness.
He lauded the AFMS for promoting and delivering preventive, curative, rehabilitative medical care to the serving soldier and their families and the veterans with utmost professionalism.
The theme of the conference is ‘Military Healthcare in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) World’. The conference aims to enhance cooperation and jointmanship in military medicine. It will cover many important topics including operational medical care, tropical medicine, field surgery, field anaesthesia, aviation and marine medicine emergencies. The conference is attended by more than 600 Indian and foreign delegates from over 38 countries.
A delegation of 20 members from the organising committee of the USINDOPACOM is in New Delhi to co-host the conference. The delegates and speakers will interact and share experiences over the four days on 110 topics.
The defence minister commended the significant role played by AFMS and USINDOPACOM in addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19.
He said, despite limitations such as short warning period, pressure on existing infrastructure and disparity in resources, the last two years have brought out the very best amongst the medical fraternity, civil society volunteer groups and governments which went out of the way to help those in need during pandemic. Rajnath praised meaningful impact of IPMHE in field of military medicine across the world through a sustained professional collaboration between doctors, nurses, dentists and medical administrators. He appreciated fact that IPMHE is addressing contemporary, real-time and relevant issues pertaining to military medicine, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, infectious diseases, medical logistics and related issues.