The conference, which ends on Friday, is co-hosted by the Singapore Armed Forces and the United States Army Pacific Command.

Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, in his opening address to the conference on Monday morning, highlighted its importance in helping to build understanding and lay the foundation for countries and armed forces to work together in response to any future crisis.

Recounting Singapore's experience in the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the SAF's response to the Tsunami disaster in 2004, Minister Teo emphasised that close cooperation between medical and health agencies domestically as well as externally was critical in carrying out relief operations effectively.

Mr Teo said the medical corps has demonstrated that it is uniquely poised to contribute to any medical contingency because of its access to military resources.

He added that military medicine has a place in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and peace support operations.

Other principal speakers who addressed the conference on Monday included Consultant to Mindef Prof Lui Pao Chuen; SAF Chief Medical Corps Rear-Admiral (DR) John Wong; and Commanding General Pacific Regional Medical Command and Tripler Army Medical Center, Brigadier-General Steve Jones.

The theme for this year's conference, Learning from the Past, Transforming Medical Teams for the Future, aims to explore the challenges, as well as current and emerging threats faced by military medicine professionals.

A wide range of topics will be discussed over the next few days including Combat Medicine and Trauma, Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Military Psychiatry, Aviation Medicine, Naval & Underwater Medicine and Technological Advances in Combat Casualty Care.