While it's entirely possible to play through New Vegas without taking damage, most players will probably need to patch themselves up sooner rather than later.
Stimpaks, RadAway and RadX are all affected by the player's medicine skill, making this skill almost essential for any playthrough. Medicine in New Vegas buffs healing items by increasing how effective they are. Medicine might be one of the most underrated skills in the game, as many players may overlook its relatively simple effects.