Pune: The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) has taken up the issue of developing the Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) into an ultra-modern facility with the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The facility will not only provide artificial limb, appliances and rehabilitative care to soldiers but will also engage in research aimed at securing indigenous solutions to its requirements.
Vice Admiral UK Sharma, director general (organization and personnel) at the AFMS, told TOI, "We have already appraised the MoD about the plan to develop the facility at the existing site. We have asked the commandant of the centre to submit detailed statements of modernization of the centre to the ministry recently."
Admiral Sharma inaugurated a brainstorming session on "Rehabilitation of the physically challenged: Newer horizons", organized by the ALC on International Day for Persons With Disabilities.
Major General Manomay Ganguly, MG (Medical) of Southern Command, Maj Gen Madhuri Kanitkar, deputy commandant, armed forces medical college (AFMC), Brig FF Jiaswal, head of department of surgery, AFMC, Col Gopal Singh, deputy commandant of ALC and Col SK Singh were present on the occasion.
Admiral Sharma said that modern challenges are different and therefore there is a need for advanced facilities to cater to future needs. "We may not be fighting a conventional war but we are constantly engaged in war-like situations. Mine blast injuries, enemy action injuries and counter terrorism operations injuries are common and we need to have modern facilities to counter these issues," he added.
The ALC's manufacturing unit creates certain artificial limbs. However, the centre purchases other modern limbs from private manufacturers to cater to the need of patients, sources said.
When asked about upgradation of the manufacturing unit at ALC, Admiral Sharma said, "We plan to manufacture modern and more functional limbs here rather than purchasing from private manufacturers. The soldiers (disabled and paraplegic) have been performing excellently at international sports arenas in the past few years. If we could manufacture expensive limbs, like the blades used by blade runners, it would be a huge success."
Meanwhile, the ALC commandant Brigadier SR Ghosh said, "Consistent patient-friendly innovation, adaptation and customization have enabled the centre to achieve greater clientele satisfaction. Matching pace with worldwide trends in the field of prosthetics and orthotics, the ALC has also switched to advanced myo-electric limbs, microprocessor-based knee joint and high-end sports prosthetic components to meet the patients' requirements."
Brigadier Ghosh further said that the centre has more than 50,000 satisfied and self-dependent amputees on its roll and approximately 1,000 new cases are added to the list each year.
The facility will not only provide artificial limb, appliances and rehabilitative care to soldiers but will also engage in research aimed at securing indigenous solutions to its requirements.
Vice Admiral UK Sharma, director general (organization and personnel) at the AFMS, told TOI, "We have already appraised the MoD about the plan to develop the facility at the existing site. We have asked the commandant of the centre to submit detailed statements of modernization of the centre to the ministry recently."
Admiral Sharma inaugurated a brainstorming session on "Rehabilitation of the physically challenged: Newer horizons", organized by the ALC on International Day for Persons With Disabilities.
Major General Manomay Ganguly, MG (Medical) of Southern Command, Maj Gen Madhuri Kanitkar, deputy commandant, armed forces medical college (AFMC), Brig FF Jiaswal, head of department of surgery, AFMC, Col Gopal Singh, deputy commandant of ALC and Col SK Singh were present on the occasion.
Admiral Sharma said that modern challenges are different and therefore there is a need for advanced facilities to cater to future needs. "We may not be fighting a conventional war but we are constantly engaged in war-like situations. Mine blast injuries, enemy action injuries and counter terrorism operations injuries are common and we need to have modern facilities to counter these issues," he added.
The ALC's manufacturing unit creates certain artificial limbs. However, the centre purchases other modern limbs from private manufacturers to cater to the need of patients, sources said.
When asked about upgradation of the manufacturing unit at ALC, Admiral Sharma said, "We plan to manufacture modern and more functional limbs here rather than purchasing from private manufacturers. The soldiers (disabled and paraplegic) have been performing excellently at international sports arenas in the past few years. If we could manufacture expensive limbs, like the blades used by blade runners, it would be a huge success."
Meanwhile, the ALC commandant Brigadier SR Ghosh said, "Consistent patient-friendly innovation, adaptation and customization have enabled the centre to achieve greater clientele satisfaction. Matching pace with worldwide trends in the field of prosthetics and orthotics, the ALC has also switched to advanced myo-electric limbs, microprocessor-based knee joint and high-end sports prosthetic components to meet the patients' requirements."
Brigadier Ghosh further said that the centre has more than 50,000 satisfied and self-dependent amputees on its roll and approximately 1,000 new cases are added to the list each year.
Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.
