The ceremony and recognition awards on the occasion of 171 anniversary of the Military Medical Academy were held in the Army House. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic, the Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, Minister of Health Zlatibor Loncar and the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces General Ljubisa Dikovic, as well as numerous friends of this military medical institution.

Congratulating on the anniversary to the personnel of the MMA, Minister Gasic pointed out that the institution, having been established with hard work, great knowledge but also with a waiver of people who have committed their lives to it, have always been the pride of the military medical service, thus no wonder the reputation is well deserved in the country and abroad.

We managed to preserve all segments of MMA, the medical one as the most important but as well as scientific research and educational segment with the rational approach and good economic management. You are doing something more significant - you render treatment to our members but also to our citizens and you fulfill the main task of your profession - Minister emphasized, having added that work results confirmed that during the last year, the employed of the MMA showed how with great commitment in management of the military and civilian insured people the care should be done in the interest of citizens, the military and the society.

Gasic particularly pointed out the Medical Faculty of the MMA, which is unique in the country and the region, because it unites the medical and military profession.

- This year we have the privilege that only a few defence systems have in the world. Namely, this year, 2015, will be remembered by the fact that we will promote the first class of medical lieutenants. This year they will complete their six year studies of medicine and they will start working in the military medical service - Defence Minister stated, also emphasizing the international cooperation of the MMA, because it is the important segment of the foreign defence policy, as well as participation of the MMA members within the medical teams in the UN and EU peacekeeping missions.

According to his words, the task of the Ministry of Defence is to further support the MMA in each segment it is necessary, and the task of the employed of the MMA is to obey the Hippocratic Oath in future too.

As the Acting Head of the Military Medical Academy Colonel Prof. Zoran Segrt said, the MMA had been created and developed along with the Serbian state and Military, together experienced all wars and sufferings and it has become and remained the inseparable part of our national history.

- The key credit for that goes to our professors -teachers who had a vision to create from one military hospital a hospital that would under one roof have treatment, education and scientific research work. In medicine when a minute is usually the most valuable and sometimes irrecoverable, the Military Medical Academy is a place where it is possible to convene in ten minutes a team of physicians who will make the best decision with the aim to cure a patient or to alleviate his suffering - stated Colonel Segrt.

Speaking about achieved results, Colonel Segrt emphasized that during 2014 more than 300.000 patients were examined at the Outpatient Clinic, more than 34.000 hospitalized, approximately 27.000 surgical interventions performed, and at the Institute of Transfusiology more than 9.000 liters of blood was collected and after being processed according to the highest standards used in numerous healthcare institutions all over the country.

Recognition awards were traditionally delivered to the best surgeon, author and reviewer of the Military Medical Review, as well as to the best organizational unit at the MMA.

"Dr. Vladan Djordjevic" medals were awarded to the best surgeons, the director of the Orthopedic -Traumatology Clinic of the Clinical Center Nis Prof. Dr Milorad B. Mitkovic and to Prof. Dr Goran Kronja who was over many years member of the MMA. The best author of the Military Medical Review for 2014 was Associate Professor Dr. Tatjana Cutovic from the Dentistry Clinic MMA and the award for the reviewer of the year was delivered to Prof. Dr. Ljubomir Todorovic.

The Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology was proclaimed to be the best organizational unit of the MMA for 2014.

On the occasion of the MMA’s anniversary, Colonel Segrt awarded the Military Medical Academy Plaque to the Serbian Armed Forces received by the Chief of the General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic.

Prior to the ceremony, the traditional reception for the former Heads of the Military Medical Academy was held, and the representatives of the MMA’s Management laid the wreath on the memorial plaques at the entrance of the Military Medical Academy.