Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić attended today, at the Central Military Club in Niš, a ceremony marking Medical Service Day and its 185th anniversary.

In his address, Minister Gašić expressed his respect for the people who look after the health of members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, stressing that members of the Medical Service "wear two uniforms".

- The first one is a military uniform, which represents readiness to sacrifice, as well as faithful and patriotic service to one’s country and people. The second uniform is a white coat. It symbolizes the universal principle of humanity. Being a military doctor, a nurse or a paramedic is a noble calling, because it combines the highest ethical and professional principles of the fight for the freedom of one's country with selfless efforts to preserve human life and health – Minister Gašić emphasized.

Military healthcare has been built patiently and carefully for 185 long years and the expertise and achievements of generations of real medical experts and pioneers have been built into that solid, monumental structure, he said.

- In times of war, the military medical corps proved its ability to save lives and maintain the health of soldiers and civilians in situations where every battle seemed lost in advance. In many wars, it was precisely those seemingly impossible victories that strengthened our soldiers’ confidence that, should an accident happen, their lives would be in good hands - emphasized Minister Gašić.

The minister of defence said that during peacetime, Serbian military medicine had grown and developed striving to master state-of-the-art knowledge, and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with the help of the best quality equipment.

- Thanks to this, our military medical service has become the standard for the medical profession in many areas, both in Serbia and abroad. Members of the military health service contribute to our country’s international reputation by participating in peacekeeping missions around the world, from which they always return accompanied by gratitude and recognition - said Minister Gašić and added that the years behind us had brought great challenges such as the  Covid pandemic, which the medical corps had successfully overcome, putting in a great deal of effort and sacrifice, and that we had learned so many valuable lessons and useful knowledge from that struggle.

According to Minister Gašić, a lot has been done to improve the efficiency of medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services within military healthcare.

- We will continue to invest in equipment, infrastructure and working conditions, and we will make special efforts to reinforce the military healthcare cadre. I am convinced that, thanks to the support of the state leadership and the Ministry of Defence, the medical service will progress and develop keeping pace with the latest global trends, but never giving up on the glorious traditions on which it rests - said the minister, expressing his best wishes for the Medical Service Day and thanking everyone for their dedication and professionalism.

The head of the Military Health Department, Brigadier General Radivoje Anđelković, VMD, addressed the audience, saying that the ceremony was dedicated to the progenitor of military surgical doctrine, General Mihailo Petrović.

- Due to numerous war experiences, along with the development of war surgery, other branches of military medicine also developed. The ideas and works of professors Mihailo Petrović, Vladan Đorđević, Mihajlo Marković, and others laid a foundation upon which the military medical service was built, and the Serbian medicine formulated its postulates, which were then harmonized with people’s needs. From then until today, the success of military surgery has been a trademark of military healthcare and the motto under which we have been contributing to the health of the citizens of Serbia for 185 years - said General Anđelković.

According to him, the task of the military medical service is to protect human life as the highest value.

- The strength of the military medical service is in its personnel who work hard in our military health institutions. All levels of healthcare, from medical sections within the Serbian Armed Forces to the Military Medical Institutions Centre in Belgrade, military hospitals in Niš and Novi Sad, to the Military Medical Academy, have their role in looking after the health of SAF members and all other citizens of our country - said General Anđelković. A healthy nation, he added, is capable of preserving the peace and freedom of the homeland, and those who are committed to that goal, keep our ancestors’ vow and leave hope for the future to our descendants.

At the ceremony, military commemorative medals were awarded to deserving individuals for exceptional achievement in military service, for zealous service and for merit.

The ceremony was attended by members of the respective collegiums of the Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff, heads and directors of military health institutions and guests.

Earlier today, the head of the Military Health Department, Gen. Anđelković, and the director of the Niš Military Hospital, Colonel Nebojša Đenić, MD, unveiled a memorial plaque honouring the founder of military surgical doctrine, General Mihailo Petrović, installed on the building of the First Surgical Pavilion within the Niš Military Hospital.

The modern military medical service in Serbia is based on the tradition that began in 1839 when the first staff doctor was appointed by decree, which is also the first official document relating to the military medical service.