The armed forces and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand satellite-based telemedicine facilities for troops stationed in forward areas.The MoU covers maintenance of existing telemedicine nodes and the addition of new ones for the armed forces. Both sides reviewed the current infrastructure and discussed a roadmap for next-generation telemedicine systems. The collaboration aims to provide critical medical care to soldiers deployed in remote, high-altitude and inaccessible border regions where conventional healthcare is unavailable.ISRO will establish 53 additional nodes in the first phase, supplementing the existing 20 nodes across the Army, Navy and Air Force. The focus is on high-altitude areas, with specialised nodes already being deployed on the Siachen Glacier, enabling frontline soldiers to consult specialists through real-time video and data links.The system uses Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology, video-conferencing and medical diagnostic software to transmit data such as ECGs and X-rays. At present, around 190 telemedicine nodes are operational across India for both defence and civilian use.The expansion will ensure that troops cut off due to harsh terrain or winter conditions have better access to healthcare. Each node is equipped with diagnostic tools that allow medical officers at remote posts to transmit real-time data to specialists at super-specialty hospitals. These nodes also use customised software to manage electronic patient records and synchronise data with video consultations.The MoU was signed by Air Marshal Shankar Subramanian on behalf of the armed forces and Nilesh M Desai for ISRO.