Kolkata, April 3 (IANS): The Raising Day of the Army Medical Corps (AMC) -- the 'Healers of the Armed Forces' -- was celebrated on Sunday at the Command Hospital here.

Eastern Army Commander Lt. Gen. Praveen Bakshi led the celebrations that began earlier in the week comprising sports and cultural events organised for the AMC personnel and their families and children.

Dedicated to the primary role of maintaining the medical fitness of the service personnel to the highest levels at all times, the AMC has a strength of about 13,200 doctors, dentists and nursing staff and more than a lakh paramedics and civilians spread across the length and breadth of the country.

The Bengal Presidency Medical Service, the first of the military service of the three Presidencies in India, was established on January 1, 1764.

The Indian Army Medical Corps (IAMC) came into existence on April 3, 1943 following the amalgamation of the Indian Medical Service (IMS), Indian Medical Department (IMD) and Indian Hospital Corps (IHC).

After Independence, the IAMC was rechristened as Army Medical Corps.