Military Medicine Day: 164 years in the service of the health of the Romanian militarytranslated

Military Medicine Day is celebrated annually on August 21, a date that marks the establishment, 164 years ago, of the Corps of Army Medical Officers.

High Royal Decree no. 4629, by which the Corps of Sanitary Officers of the Army and the General Directorate of the Romanian Sanitary Service were established, was signed by ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza in 1862.

However, the foundations of the system had been laid since the first half of the 19th century. In 1830, the activity of the civil and military health services was coordinated by the Medical Committee, and in 1831 an infirmary was established that would later become the Central Military Hospital.

The doctor Carol Davila played an essential role in the development of Romanian military medicine. He took over the management of the military hospital in 1853 and contributed to the organization of medical assistance, ambulance services and medical education. In 1857, together with Nicolae Kretzulescu, he founded the National School of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Military medicine on the battlefield An important moment for the military health service was the War of Independence of 1877-1878. In the difficult conditions of the front they have...