Military Medical Services Research Articles

Smart Medical Evacuation Support System for the Military.

Medical support in crisis situations is a major challenge. Efficient implementation of the medical evacuation process especially in operations with limited human resources that may occur during armed conflicts can limit the loss of these resources. Proper evacuation of wounded soldiers from the battlefield can increase the chances of their survival and rapid return to further military operations. This paper presents the technical details of the decision support system for medical evacuation to support this process. The basis for the functioning of this system is the continuous measurement of vital signs of soldiers via a specialized measurement module with a set of medical sensors. Vital signs values are then transmitted via the communication module to the analysis and inference module, which automatically determines the color of medical triage and the soldier's chance of survival. This paper presents the results of tests of our system to validate it, which were carried out using test vectors of soldiers' vital signs, as well as the results of the system's performance on a group of volunteers who performed typical activities of tactical operations. The results of this study showed the usefulness of the developed system for supporting military medical services in military operations.

Empowering Maneuvers: Boldly Mobilizing Military Medical Research and Training within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Safeguard a Nation and its People.

In 2023 Alkhathami and colleagues from the Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences highlighted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's transformative upgrades across various sectors, notably including enhancements to the healthcare system, and called for action to extend these upgrades to the military healthcare field. Prompted by this call to action, the leadership of the military healthcare system swiftly commenced initiatives, acting in less than three months from this pivotal appeal. In January 2023 the first author ordered a decree via the General Directorate of Armed Forces Medical Services of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with US central Command and international partners, to host the 3rd International Conference of Military Medicine. The event graciously welcoming more than 1000 military representatives from 20 participating nations. The Military Medical Conference, fostering a global military community dialogue on the necessity to explore collective capacities to endure and overcome humanitarian challenges, thereby sustaining health, promoting well-being, and nurturing life through strategies that align with the insights of Alkhathami et al. (2023). The response and the need underlined by the original article are discussed by the Major General, staff of the Saudi Military Medical Services and academics from the University of Sharjah.

Analyzing and Assessing the Current Status of Heat-Related Illnesses in the South Korean Military.

The population of the Republic of Korea often experiences heat-related illnesses during summer that are exacerbated by significant variations. With rising temperatures attributed to global warming and other environmental changes within the military, combined with the military medical services' mission to uphold combat capabilities and promote health, it has become crucial to accurately understand the status of heat-related illnesses and integrate more comprehensive and systematic preventive measures. This study aimed to analyze data on heat-related illnesses between 2018 and 2022 to assess and reflect on the said diseases in the South Korean Military. We performed a secondary analysis using data provided by the Defense Medical Statistic Information System. This single-institution retrospective, cross-sectional study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Armed Forces Medical Command (approval number: AFMC-2023-11-001). Over the past 5 years, the annual number of soldiers treated for heat-related illnesses, whether as outpatients or inpatients, at division medical facilities and military hospitals ranged from 846 to 1,250 cases per year. The proportion of severe cases fluctuates annually between 1.1% and 1.8%. Notably, 94 to 96% of all heat-related illnesses were recorded between May and September, with peak rates in July and August. The army reported the highest number of heat-related illnesses among military branches, with soldiers comprising the majority of cases. This highlights the urgent need for enhanced heat illness prevention measures within army ranks. Notably, the incidence of these illnesses peaked during July and August, underlining the critical periods for intensified preventive efforts.

Healthcare values in the language of law: critical reflections on the ethical and legal foundations of medical triage standards in the Russian military medical service

Healthcare values in the language of law: critical reflections on the ethical and legal foundations of medical triage standards in the Russian military medical service

The first two years of the use of low titer group O whole blood during French Military overseas operations: A retrospective study.

On the battlefield, hemorrhage is the main cause of potentially preventable death. To reduce mortality due to hemorrhagic injuries, the French Military Medical Service (FMMS) has deployed low titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) since June 2021 during operation BARKHANE in the Sahel-Saharan strip. Questions persist regarding the circumstances under which the FMMS employs LTOWB during overseas operations. We performed a retrospective analysis of all LTOWB transfused by the FMMS during overseas operations in the Sahel-Saharan strip between June 1, 2021, and June 1, 2023. Information was collected from battlefield forward transfusion sheets. Over the 2-year study period, 40 units of LTOWB were transfused into 25 patients. Of the 25 patients, 18 were combat casualties and seven were transfused for non-trauma surgery. Of the 40 units of LTOWB transfused, 22 were provided during Role 2 care, 11 during tactical medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and seven in light and mobile surgical units. Among combat casualties, LTOWB was the first blood product transfused in 13 patients. In combat casualties, 6 h post-trauma, the median ratio of plasma: red blood cells (RBCs) was 1.5, and the median equivalent platelet concentrate (PC) transfused was 0.17. No immediate adverse events related to LTOWB transfusion were reported. LTOWB is transfused by the FMMS during overseas operations from the tactical MEDEVAC until Role 2 care. Deployment of LTOWB by the FMMS enables an early high-ratio plasma/RBC transfusion and an early platelet transfusion for combat casualties.

The Tägerwilen II report: Recommendations from the NATO Prehospital Care Improvement Initiative Task Force.

The Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services (COMEDS) initiated the Prehospital Care Improvement Initiative Task Force (PHCII TF) to advise on how to improve prehospital care within NATO nations. The Task Force consisted of the NATO Military Health Care Working Group and its subordinated expert panels, including the Blood Panel, the Emergency Medicine Panel and the Special Operations Forces Medicine Panel. The PHCII TF identified four key prehospital care themes for exploration: 1) Tactical Casualty Care, 2) Blood Far Forward), 3) Forward Surgical Capabilities), and 4) Prolonged Casualty Care. A consensus experimentation workshop explored the four themes, utilizing a modified Delphi technique and Utstein rotations during syndicate work, resulting in 83 consensus statements. The consensus statements were further evaluated on six criteria: actionable, measurable, urgent, interoperability, low risk/threat and impact. The 83 consensus statements, when weighted against the six criteria, resulted in 15 recommendations, focusing on standardization of training, ensuring provision of evidence-based practices and removing legislative barriers to improve prehospital care. The recommendations on these four themes reflect the most significant priorities in improving prehospital care, and must be incorporated in the on-going revision of NATO doctrine.

Evaluation of the Pedagogical Impact of "Traum'Cast" Podcast: A Pilot Study Based on Metacognition.

With the evolution of educational tools, the French Military medical service has created a podcast program, Traum'Cast, about the principles of war medicine, accessible online for free. Our objective was to measure the learning effect of the Traum'Cast program's first episode. A non-randomized pilot trial between July and December 2021 included 80 health care providers: 40 in the video podcast group compared to 40 in a group reading a pdf file providing the same information. Using a 10 MCQs, we evaluated knowledge acquisition before, just after, and 2 weeks after the intervention. It was measured using metacognition tools based on confidence marking (number of correct answers, score weighted by certainty level, and realism). Knowledge acquisition was better in the podcast group than in the pdf file group immediately after the intervention (correct answers: 9.0 [9.0-10.0] vs 9.0 [7.8-9.0], P = 0.015; weighted score: 177.0 [159.0-198.0] vs 160.0 [129.5-176.5], P = 0.020). This difference was persistent 2 weeks after (weighted score: 127.5 [101.8-145.2] vs 105.5 [74.2-128.5], P = 0.023). This podcast is an innovative teaching tool which has proven to strengthen the knowledge of the principles of war medicine.

The Beginning of Formation of the Military Medical Service of the Russian Army in the Turkestan Region in the 1860s

The history of the military medical service in Turkestan during the imperial period has yet to be thoroughly studied. This article aims to analyze the formation of the military healthcare system in Central Asia during the 1860s based on various approaches and methods and a wide range of archival materials, regulatory legal acts, historical sources, and scientific literature. The research delves into the state of traditional medicine in the region before the Russian conquest, examines the issues of adapting Russian troops to local climate conditions during the Turkestan campaigns, and analyzes the activities of military medical ranks, and the process of establishing military medical institutions in the Turkestan region, and later, in the Turkestan General-Governorship (Turkestan Military District). The study concludes that by the end of the 1860s, the military medicine system was established in the Turkestan Region, which includes regulations, military medical institutions such as hospitals, semi-hospitals (polu-gospitals), infirmaries (lazarets), and personnel to assist not only the servicemen of the Russian army but also the local population.

육군 현역 병사의 군 의료서비스에 대한 의미

The purpose of this study is to examine the meaning of military medical services of Korean army soldiers. In-depth interviews were conducted with five study participants. The interview content consisted of 49 semantic units, 8 subcategories, and 4 categories. As a result of the study, first, there was a need to present measures and cases to establish trust that soldiers can receive the best medical services in a timely manner when they need medical services while performing defense missions. Second, problems with military medical services presented in the past, such as insufficient information on military medical services, pain to endure with timely medical services, and insufficient quality of military medical services, have not been resolved. Third, there was a sad reality that the level of medical services had to be divided into military and private sectors. Fourth, it was suggested that appropriate medical services must be provided to soldiers who perform national defense obligations.

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE – THE MONUMENT OF HUMANITY IN THE CRIMEAN WAR 1853.-1856.

Background: Ms. Florence Nightingale (F.N.) has been recognized as the founder of modern nursing. She had a prominent role in organizing the medical service for the British army in the Crimean War. Aim: The goal of the research was to determine the role and contribution of F.N. to the medical service during the Crimean War, her original organizing arrangements, and novel treatment modalities in the setting of a mass casualty situation. The impact of her war experience on her psychological condition has been assessed. Methodology: The research was done through a review of the historical documents, considering the work and the role of F.N. in the British Army medical service during the Crimean War. Result: The passionate work of F.N. in the field hospital earned her the nickname Angel of Crimea. She introduced novel methods of nursing and sanitation that reduced the mortality rate in the British Army by 70%. However, after the war, on her return home to England, she showed mood changes consistent with what is nowadays known as posttraumatic stress disorder. Conclusion: Engagement in the medical service during the war carries the inevitable risk of the development of posttraumatic stress disorder. This should be considered a real and obvious threat for medical personnel involved with the treatment of the injured during the war, i.e., the mass casualty situation. The contribution of F.N. to the organization and efficacy of the military medical service of the British Army has been discussed.

Historical Aspects of the Interaction between the Russian Red Cross Society and the Military medical Service of the Russian Army in the Akhal-Teke Campaign of M.D. Skobelev (1880–1881)

Historical Aspects of the Interaction between the Russian Red Cross Society and the Military medical Service of the Russian Army in the Akhal-Teke Campaign of M.D. Skobelev (1880–1881)

Unstable Expansion: The Development of the Military Medical Evacuation Chain in Korea, 1948-1953.

This research examines the expansion and characteristics of the Korean Army's chain of medical evacuation in 1948-1953. The most important goal of the chain of medical evacuation was to conserve fighting strength, which cannot be achieved only by sending the sick and wounded to the rear for treatment. It was more important to maintain as many mission-capable wounded soldiers on the frontline. Therefore, triage for conserving strength was the priority in the evacuation process, and military doctors conducting triage played a significant role. Focusing on military doctors, this article studies the instability of the Korean Army's medical evacuation chain. Although Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule in August 1945, Korea had no army or army medical services. With the support of KMAG, the Korean Army was able to build a nationwide evacuation chain during the Korean War. However, the expansion of the medical evacuation chain resulted in instability. At the heart of the instability was manpower, rather than organization and transportation. Koreans had almost no experience with the military medical services before 1948, and during the Korean War, most doctors, who had been conscripted after the outbreak of the war, were not trained as military doctors. Therefore, the Korean Army had no other choice but to conduct medical evacuations using mobilized civilian doctors who were not sufficiently trained as military doctors. The escalating war revealed the problems of civilian doctors in military uniforms. Unlike the goal of the chain of medical evacuation, they easily evacuated patients and were reluctant to release patients to return to their duties. Korean Army doctors who were not sufficiently trained as military doctors struggled between the goals of military medical services and those of medical care. Consequently, the military doctors and the instability of the medical evacuation chain during the Korean War reflect the fundamental tension between war and medicine.

Military surgery and field surgical care in the Czech Army.

Military surgery is one of the basic branches of military medicine. It is based on the principles of surgery performed in peacetime, but is significantly different when performed under specific conditions. The aim of the article is to describe these differences and present the current state of providing surgical care in the field in the Czech Army. Medical support in the field, or the treatment and evacuation system of medical services of the armies of NATO member countries, is organized on four levels, matched by medical facilities designated as Role 1-4. Surgical care in the field usually takes place at the level of Role 2 and Role 3. While in the conditions of a foreign military mission, surgical treatment aims to achieve a definitive standard, in a typical war conflict the only goal is to save life and limb and prepare casualties for further evacuation. Additionally, triage of the wounded is an important part of health care in the field at individual levels, the importance of which increases especially in the case of mass casualties. In the military medical service of the Army of the Czech Republic, goals are defined as part of the construction and development of capabilities, which should expand and reinforce the current potential of providing surgical care in the field - currently encompassing two field hospitals capable of Role 2 or 3. The ambitious plan to construct additional field medical elements is difficult to achieve in the expected time horizon and, in addition, it also faces a significant shortage of military surgeons due to the planned scope of capacity increase. Despite all the objective difficulties, however, Czech military surgeons have a high credit in the eyes of the NATO allies, gained during the deployment of the Czech field hospital or of the Czech field surgical team within multinational military units.

On the question of the use of the museum of the Ukrainian military medical academy and museums of the city of Kyiv in military-patriotic education

The creation of the military medical museum of the UVMA and the organization of a comprehensive study of the history of military medicine strengthened the scientific and cultural potential of the educational institution, created an atmosphere of involvement of the UVMA staff in the centuries-old traditions of military medicine in Ukraine, and gave a new impetus to the military and patriotic education of students. In addition, the creation of the museum made it possible to strengthen the representative functions of UVMA, create an additional factor of successful communication and establishment of business and professional contacts with colleagues in Ukraine and abroad, contributed to the organization of a meaningful cultural program for the stay of various delegations and individual officials at the academy. Museums of military and military medical educational institutions acquire special importance in the conditions of a full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The demand is put forward to them to truthfully reflect the military resistance of Ukraine for the preservation of its own state independence, which began in 2014, by various museum means. With the help of photo and video materials, documents, fragments of weapons, transformed into museum exhibits, it is necessary to depict the long, exhausting, tragic and at the same time heroic struggle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which turned into a national war of Ukraine against Russian aggression from February 24, 2022. Relevance of research. In accordance with the current legislation of Ukraine, the educational process carried out in educational institutions combines three components: the educational process, the scientific process and the educational process. The educational process, as an important integral component of the educational process, is aimed at forming in those who study patriotism, respect for the state language and state symbols of Ukraine, a careful attitude to national, historical, cultural values, the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people, the need in case of need to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. This direction of educational activity acquires special importance in the conditions of a full-scale war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The valuable experience of the organization of medical support of the Armed Forces (AF) of Ukraine during the years of armed resistance to the military aggression of the Russian Federation should be highlighted in a museum exhibition. The need for military-patriotic education is determined by the requirements that the state and society apply to servicemen, the Military Oath and the Statutes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Activities of military and patriotic education in higher military educational institutions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are carried out in the format of lectures, discussions, meetings with veterans, organization of thematic exhibitions, museum expositions.The purpose of the study is aimed at a comprehensive analysis of materials that highlight the specific results of using the museum of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences and the museums of the city of Kyiv in the military and patriotic education of students. Materials and methods. The information base of the article consists of materials that highlight the impact of military-patriotic education activities on students of UVMA (excursions to museums of UVMA and the city of Kyiv, meetings with veterans of the medical service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, prominent Ukrainian public and cultural figures, leaders and members of foreign delegations of military medical services NATO member countries, etc.). Current visual content (photo materials) is attached. The article uses general scientific methods - analysis-synthesis and special historical methods: historical-systemic and biographical.

Problems and prospects of medical provision for military personnel with COVID-19 in the conditions of medical insurance

To date, the treatment of patients with COVID-19, which caused an unprecedented pandemic in 2019–2023, remains difficult. Military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during conscription, when returning from business trips and vacations (especially those who are in the incubation period or are asymptomatic) can bring COVID-19 into the unit and cause an outbreak of the disease.
 The purpose of the work was to conduct an analysis of the existing models of the functioning of insurance medicine in some countries in the world and in Ukraine for their further possible application in the system of medical support of the Armed Forces; factors and conditions affecting the course of the disease on COVID-19 were additionally studied.
 The main preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19 among military personnel are compliance with sanitary standards, control of disease symptoms and timely vaccination or revaccination. In the treatment of patients with COVID-19, depending on the conditions of stay and the severity of the disease, the following groups of drugs are used: analgesics and antipyretics, rehydration, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal, low molecular weight heparins, systemic corticosteroids and vitamins, which military personnel receive free of charge. The creation of an effective system of insurance medicine in Ukraine should provide for the possibility for servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to receive medical care in any health care facility, regardless of departmental subordination, by creating an electronic medical card of a serviceman, which will be included in the electronic health care system of Ukraine.
 The conducted studies make it possible to draw a conclusion about the need for improvement and further development of the scientific and practical foundations of systematic research in the military medical service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, improving the quality and efficiency of medical support for servicemen, introducing modern approaches and methods of making sound management decisions on issues of protection and prevention of proliferation COVID-19.

Path Avoidance System of Intelligent Robot Based on Computer Vision

At present, obstacle avoidance technology is widely used in the military field, scientific detection, traffic control, industrial manufacturing, medical service, and many other fields, and various machines with autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance capabilities have been used to varying degrees, thus replacing some human daily production activities and bringing many conveniences to people’s lives. The key to autonomous obstacle avoidance is to obtain the direction information of the obstacle in its direction of advance in real time, which is also the precondition of obstacle avoidance system in obstacle avoidance path planning. In this paper, an intelligent robot path avoidance system is designed based on computer vision (CV) theory. The binocular vision ranging experiment verifies that the system has a less ranging error and can effectively detect the location of obstacles within a certain range, and the success rate of intelligent robot avoidance of obstacles reaches more than 96%, achieving a good avoidance effect.

Admiral Cornelius Kruis, the foundation of the Baltic Fleet and the Naval Hospital of St. Petersburg

The role of Admiral Cornelius Kruys (16551727), one of the closest, and loyal associates of Peter the Great, who stood at the foundation of the regular Russian navy, was considered. Kruys was recruited into the Russian duty by Peter I in 1698 with the rank of Vice Admiral and devoted his entire life to serve in Russia and the Russian fleet. Having extensive professional experience and knowledge of maritime affairs, Kruys played a special role in organizing, building, and arming the Baltic fleet according to the European model. Taking over access to the sea, Russia became one of the greatest maritime powers of Europe.
 The article is based on a large amount of documentary material from the funds of the Russian State Naval Archive (Saint Petersburg). All the reforms of Peter I were focused on the formation and development of Russia along the European path, which include implementation of the advanced achievements of Europe in the field of military and naval affairs, science, technology, construction, culture, and medicine. The main time of the reign of Peter I falls in the period of the Great Northern War between Russia and Sweden (17001721). The Sovereign always paid special attention to the organization of the regular army and navyand recruiting the best military specialists from the leading European countries for this purpose. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in European countries, the military medical service, hospitals, and infirmaries were an integral part of the army and navy. Such an organization of the armed forces of Russia was necessary for Peter I. On October 30, 1704, Vice Admiral Kruys presented the project of organization and construction of the Baltic fleet to Peter I. The project contained A list of needs for His Royal Majestys ship fleet: in the sovereignty of the government of Ingermonland, which should be hastily prepared to fill stores. Along with a list of the necessary marine specialists, materials, and equipment for the construction and equipment for ships, Kruys emphasized the need for the simultaneous establishment of a Naval Hospital or a clinic for at least 500600 patients for the personnel of the Ingrian Navy (zelo potrebno yest). This critical project was approved by the Sovereign and was soon put into production. The birth of the Naval (Admiralty) Hospital of Saint Petersburg took place simultaneously with the Baltic fleet. Since then, the Naval Hospital has become an integral part of the Russian Navy. On November 5, 1704, the Admiralty fortress-shipyard was laid in Saint Petersburg, and soon the construction of the Baltic fleet under the control and leadership of Kruys was launched.

The Development of Military Medicine in the Era of the «Military Revolution in Europe» in France

The subject of the study is the main aspects of the formation of the military medical service of the French Kingdom of the epoch of the Great Century. The purpose of the review is to demonstrate the integration of the Institute of military Medicine into the ideological machine of the Sun King. The author pays attention to the political, economic and socio-cultural aspects of this process, which took place against the background of the formation of absolutism as a military-political concept.
 The author demonstrates the transformation of military medicine as a specific sociocultural practice into an integral part of the life of the French army of the era of the military revolution, which was primarily an element of propaganda, which was associated with the regular actualization of the thesis that the actions of doctors are an act of goodwill on the part of the crown, as well as the supply of units, clothing provisions and ammunition. This increased the morale of the troops, despite the removal
 from the camps of the baggage women, who had already received the idyllic name "Aphrodite's army" at that time. The characterized phenomenon is presented in the article as an example of the instrumentalization of the ancient (in particular, the Ro-
 man heritage), which is an integral part of the transformation of the military and political mechanisms of European political states. In many ways, an unobvious manifestation of this process is the widespread introduction of the simplest sanitary and hygienic standards into army use, such as, for example, the use of a block system for the location of the main components of the camp, which made its structure more orderly and efficient.

Санітарно-дезінфекційні загони як складова військової медичної служби Другої УНР

The purpose of the article is to identify the place and role of the Sanitary Disinfectant Squads (SDS) in the structure of the military medical service of the Second Ukrainian People’s Republic based on the analysis of archived documents and achievements of historiography. Th e research methodology is based on general scientifi c methods of analysis, synthesis, and systematicity, which, when applying a concrete-historical approach, allows for sig- nifi cantly deepened knowledge about the military medical service of the Second UPR in general and the SDS in particular. Th e scientifi c novelty lies in the fact that based on new archival data, an attempt has been made to comprehensively cover the process of creation, organization, place, and role in the general structure of the SDS of the military medical service of the Seconds UPR. Conclusions. Th e higher state and military leadership of the Second Ukrainian People’s Republic was aware of the importance of a properly formed and eff ective military sanitary service for the successful armed struggle for the preservation of Ukrainian statehood. To overcome the negative consequences of epidemic diseases among the military, as well as for preventive purposes, in January 1919, a decision was made to create eighteen SDS, which were to be subordinated to the MMMD (Main Military Medical Directorate), and in general to the Ministry of Military Aff airs. Unfortunately, due to the deterioration of the military and political situation of the Directorate of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, the legal and organizational registration of this component of the military medical service was delayed until the summer of this year. Th e functioning of the SDS was provided by orders and resolutions that determined their purpose and tasks as well as regulated and explained the activities in organizational and economic terms. In the spring of 1919, during the retreat of the UPR army, part of the SDS was lost. But the restoration and creation during the off ensive of the army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in the summer of 1919 showed that the Ukrainian military leadership attached great importance to them for the implementation of proper provision of sanitary and epidemic protection of soldiers and offi - cers. Th roughout 1919, the SDS carried out anti-epidemic work among the Ukrainian military. Unfortunately, the SDS could not entirely fulfi l the assigned tasks for objective and subjective reasons. Th e huge scale of the spread of epidemic diseases, the shortage of medicines and equip- ment, as well as the lack of trained personnel, were the most noticeable. In the autumn of the same year, in the conditions of the collapse of the army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, the SDS ceased to function, but the experience gained came in handy in the last attempt to preserve Ukrainian statehood in the union with Poland in 1920.

‘The worst time of year in Rome for the Olympics’: lessons and legacies in healthcare from the 1960 Olympic Games

ABSTRACT The provision of medical support for athletes during the Olympic Games has been a feature of each Olympic event. Prior to 1960, medical services were largely utilitarian in nature, frequently relying on military medical services and focused on providing only the essential medical support to athletes, support staff and spectators during the games. However, the appointment of Professor Luigi Gedda to lead the Medical and Scientific Committee for Rome led to an expansion of healthcare services beyond routine clinical delivery, to focus on an extensive and controversial research and education programme during the games. Subsequently, the games were confronted by a range of novel clinical scenarios, including the presence of intense heat during competitions, the transmission of infectious disease among athletes, the rapidly expanding use of drugs by athletes and the death of an athlete following competition. This paper utilises archival documents and contemporary sources to critically review the nature, effectiveness and impact of the healthcare provided at the 1960 Olympic Games.