New Delhi, Nov 25 (IANS): More and more countries are entrusting women with greater responsibilities in their armed forces and in India too, women have evolved as able soldiers in whichever arm or service they have served in, President Ram Nath Kovind said here on Friday.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the 42nd World Congress of the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM) here, he said that in the field of combat medical care, women have historically had a distinguished record as healthcare providers.

"Women have always, in some role or the other, been an important part of the armed forces across the world. Different countries have different terms of engagement and employment of women in uniform.

"More and more countries are giving them greater responsibilities. In India too, women have evolved as able soldiers in whichever arm or service they have served in," he said.

Kovind said that in the Indian armed forces medical services, women have donned the uniform as medical, dental and nursing officers since Independence and have "served and proved themselves with great distinction even in extremely difficult situations".

He expressed pleasure at the fact that a special panel discussion was slated in the programme to discuss the role of a woman as a combat soldier.

Emphasising that the medical service is an important pillar for any military, Kovind said that the Armed Forces Medical Services of India have been providing "stellar service not only to the armed forces but to the nation both in peace and war".

He underlined the need to focus on two aspects of medicine -- training and medical research.

"Both are progressive and mandated requirements of the medical profession, which help the organisation and the individual to constantly grow and expand.

Delegates from 74 member states participated in the Congress.