NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday laid the foundation stones for ophthalmology, oncology and joint replacement centres at Army Hospital (Research & Referral) and new infrastructure at Base Hospital, Delhi Cantonment.Speaking at the 262nd Army Medical Corps Raising Day celebrations, Rajnath said, “Military medical services within the country and neighbouring nations have emerged as a powerful testament to India’s soft power.” Encouraging the Army Medical Corps, he said, “Innovation, capacity-building and integration of advanced technology are a must to meet emerging military medicine challenges.”The state-of-the-art facilities at Army Hospital (Research & Referral) will aim to significantly enhance tertiary care capabilities of Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), particularly in domains of advanced eye care, cancer treatment and complex joint replacement surgeries, while the new infrastructure at Base Hospital is being developed to create a capacity of 998 beds along with an additional 100 crisis expansion beds, to address routine and emergency healthcare requirements of defence forces personnel.Rajnath said, “In today’s world, security isn’t just about protecting borders; health security is equally important. Strong medical support plays a crucial role in the success of major operations like Operation Sindoor. When soldiers are sure that they will have access to quality medical facilities under all circumstances, they can confidently complete their missions.”