BEIJING - A special medical service squad of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has started work, the PLA Daily reported on Sunday.

The flagship newspaper of China's armed forces said the squad passed an appraisal on Saturday.

The squad was established on August 1 and has been in training for two months.

The squad will promote reform in medical support methods during warfare and play an important role in non-combat military operations such as disaster rescue and relief, the report quoted an unnamed PLA official as saying.

The 40-member squad is comprised of 37 officers majoring in medical care and three female soldiers majoring in nursing.