The South African Medical Service (SAMS) was a branch of the South African Defence Force (SADF). In 1994 when the SADF was merged with various other military and armed resistance forces as part of the post-apartheid reforms the SAMS became the South African Military Health Service of the South African National Defence Force.
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History[]
The SA Defence Act Amendment Act, No. 22 of 1922 re-organised the Permanent Force. From 1 February 1923 the Permanent Force consisted a number of Corps, including the SA Medical Corps.[1][2]
The SAMS was established in July 1979 as a service branch of the SADF.[3] The establishment combined the medical services of the Army, Navy and the Air Force. The head of the SAMS was the Surgeon-General who had the rank of Lieutenant-General.[4]
The role of the SAMS was to provide health and medical support services to the SADF, it included a veterinary section that looked after dogs and horses. The SAMS operated three hospitals, 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria, 2 Military Hospital in Cape Town, and 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein. It also had three specialist institutes; the Institute for Aviation Medicine, the Institute for Maritime Medicine, and the Military Psychological Institute.[4]
References[]
- ↑ Lillie, A.C. (1982). "THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY". http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/618.
- ↑ Orpen, Neil. "Appendix 1:THE UNION DEFENCE FORCE BEFORE 1933". HyperWar. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/SouthAfrica/EAfrica/EAfrica-A1.html. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ↑ "A Brief History of the South African Defence Force (SADF) 1912 1994. Part 2". Allexplore.com. http://www.allexplore.com/id781.htm. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "South Africa Medical Service". Photius.com. http://www.photius.com/countries/south_africa/national_security/south_africa_national_security_medical_service.html. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
The original article can be found at South African Medical Service and the edit history here.