Armed Forces Centre for Defence Medicine
The Defence Medicine Centre places human dignity above all else. This includes everything from providing emergency medical care for combat-related injuries and reducing physical and psychological suffering to a minimum, to promoting the health and well-being of personnel during peacetime.
Photo: Erik Rehnberg/Försvarsmakten
Qualified Healthcare Professionals
"Vita praeponitur" is Latin for "life comes first" and serves as the motto of the Defence Medicine Centre (FÖMEDC). It reflects the guiding principle of healthcare within the Swedish Armed Forces: respect for human dignity and the belief that every individual is irreplaceable.
For us, this means providing the Swedish Armed Forces with highly qualified healthcare professionals who are well equipped, well trained and fully prepared to carry out their duties.
The Defence Medicine Centre (FÖMEDC)
FÖMEDC is the Swedish Armed Forces' centre of expertise for defence medicine and is located in Gothenburg. FÖMEDC consists of a command structure that includes the Headquarters and HR Department, the Swedish Armed Forces Combat School for Defence Medicine, the Functional Unit, and the Hospital Battalion, which comprises two hospital companies and one trauma company.
Our personnel include officers, civilian specialists such as doctors and nurses, non-commissioned officers, soldiers and reserve officers. Both full-time and part-time employees serve at FÖMEDC. Our mission is to recruit, train and develop Swedish Armed Forces personnel in areas ranging from preventive healthcare to physical and psychological care. In addition, we are responsible for the development and supply of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals.
FÖMEDC contributes to a stronger defence by developing and delivering defence medical capabilities before, during and after operations. We also train, exercise and mobilise our own wartime units: the Depot and two Hospital Companies. We are committed to achieving the best possible outcome in every situation and take great pride in what we accomplish.
The overall objective of the Defence Medicine Centre is to ensure effective healthcare services within the Swedish Armed Forces during peacetime, international operations, crises and disasters, and armed conflict. This includes everything from providing emergency medical care for combat-related injuries and reducing physical and psychological suffering to a minimum, to promoting the health and well-being of personnel during peacetime.