Arti Sarin Unveils Phoenix Foot Mk-I at Pune Artificial Limb Centre

Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), visited the Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) in Pune on 11 August 2026 to assess the institution’s rehabilitation programmes and review its work on indigenous mobility solutions for personnel and other patients with disabilities.

The visit focused on how the centre is combining multidisciplinary care with in-house technological development to improve mobility, rehabilitation outcomes and quality of life for amputees and others requiring specialised support. A key feature of the review was the emphasis on customised, India-developed orthotic and prosthetic solutions tailored to individual patient needs and varied operating conditions.

During her tour, Surg VAdm Arti Sarin visited “Saksham”, the ALC’s Holistic Mobility Clinic, which has been designed to bring a range of rehabilitation services under one roof. The facility integrates multiple aspects of mobility and rehabilitation care, allowing patients to receive more comprehensive support through a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach.

The DGAFMS also inspected the centre’s advanced 3D printing facility, where indigenous innovations in orthotics and prosthetics are being developed. The capability is intended to support the production of customised devices based on the specific requirements of individual patients, reflecting a broader shift towards more precise and responsive rehabilitation care.

Officials briefed her on ongoing efforts to modernise customised footwear and enhance mobility solutions at the centre. During the visit, she unveiled the Phoenix Foot Mk-I, a new development by the Artificial Limb Centre aimed at helping amputees move across diverse terrains with greater ease, confidence and functional mobility.

The Phoenix Foot Mk-I was presented as part of the centre’s wider effort to develop indigenous rehabilitation technologies suited to different environmental and operational conditions. Such systems are intended not only to improve day-to-day mobility for amputees, but also to strengthen self-reliance in specialised medical equipment by reducing dependence on imported solutions in a highly specialised field.

Surg VAdm Arti Sarin also met patients and their attendants, taking stock of their rehabilitation journeys and experiences at the centre. Her interactions offered an overview of how patients are engaging with the institution’s services, while also reinforcing the patient-facing dimension of the Armed Forces Medical Services’ rehabilitation model.

She appreciated the work of the medical and technical teams involved in delivering patient-centric care and support. In recognition of their contribution to rehabilitation services and patient care, the DGAFMS presented DGAFMS Appreciation Cards to dedicated personnel of the Artificial Limb Centre.

Commending Team ALC, Surg VAdm Arti Sarin praised the centre’s sustained focus on professional excellence, indigenous innovation and compassionate care. She stressed the importance of pairing advanced technology with a patient-focused approach so that individuals facing physical challenges can recover greater independence and improve their mobility.

The Pune visit underlined the Armed Forces Medical Services’ continued emphasis on modern rehabilitation systems, multidisciplinary treatment models and home-grown medical technology. Initiatives such as Saksham and the Phoenix Foot Mk-I reflect the effort to expand rehabilitation beyond clinical treatment alone, with the centre framing that objective as transforming disability into “SuperAbility.”