An Indian Army medical team, specifically the 60 Parachute Field Hospital, is poised to receive accreditation from the World Health Organization (WHO) as an Emergency Medical Team (EMT). This recognition marks a historic first for India and underscores the team's consistent dedication to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations across the globe. The 118-member team is currently deployed in Myanmar under Operation Brahma, providing critical aid following a devastating earthquake.

The WHO's Emergency Medical Team (EMT) initiative coordinates international groups of health professionals—including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and logisticians—to deliver rapid and effective clinical care during emergencies, be they natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or conflicts. These teams, sourced from governments, NGOs, militaries, and other organizations, are rigorously trained to be self-sufficient and adhere to WHO’s stringent minimum standards, ensuring they bolster rather than burden local health systems. Currently, WHO recognizes approximately 40 such teams globally, but none are from India, making this accreditation particularly significant.

Lt Col Jagneet Gill, the commanding officer of the 60 Parachute Field Hospital, emphasized the team's unique capabilities during this mission: "For the first time in any Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission, we established parallel operating theatres, enabling simultaneous surgeries—a critical capability given the patient load. Our setup was recognised as the primary trauma referral centre by local hospitals and international teams from Japan and Russia."

As of April 13, 2025, the hospital’s dedicated doctors and nursing staff had already treated 2,519 patients and conducted 6,888 laboratory investigations. Major surgical procedures were performed on at least 55 patients. The 200-bed hospital was rapidly established using prefabricated shelters and portable equipment, with generator backups ensuring uninterrupted power supply. Beyond immediate medical care, the team has also provided crucial counseling services to address the psychological trauma resulting from the earthquake and ongoing aftershocks, alongside essential medical guidance.

The 60 Parachute Field Hospital's commitment extends beyond immediate relief efforts. Lt Col Gill noted, “Our effort is not just to provide immediate relief but to partner in recovery—reinforcing India’s commitment to regional peace, resilience, and humanitarian cooperation." The team has also served as a central distribution hub for relief materials and actively engaged in public health coordination with medical universities in Myanmar.

This is not the first time the 60 Parachute Field Hospital has been lauded for its exceptional service. In 2024, the hospital received the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar for its outstanding work in disaster management. Their prior deployments include providing medical assistance during the Uttarakhand floods (2013), the Nepal earthquake under Operation Maitri (2015), and the Indonesian tsunami as part of Operation Samudra Maitri (2018). Most recently, in February 2023, the unit responded swiftly to the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria, deploying a 99-member team and establishing India’s first Level-2 medical facility in Turkey. Despite resource constraints and language barriers, they successfully set up a 30-bed hospital in a school building in Hatay province, demonstrating their adaptability and unwavering commitment to humanitarian aid.