The Day of the Serbian Armed Forces Medical Services was officially marked at the Niš Military Hospital today in memory of 30th July 1839, when Dr Emerich Lindemeier was appointed the first staff doctor in accordance with the Constitution of the Principality of Serbia and the Act on Formation of Standing Military Forces.
The celebration was attended by the State Secretary in the Ministry of Defense Dr Zoran Vesić, Head of the Health Directorate at the Ministry of Defense Brigadier General Dr Veljko Todorović, Head of VMA Prof. Dr Marijan Novaković, heads of military medical clinics in Niš, Novi Sad and Belgrade, representatives of military and civil health facilities, deans of medical faculties in Serbia, as well as army medical services veterans.
The ceremony began with wreaths being laid at the foot of the monument at the Niš military hospital which was erected in honour of doctors, patients and soldiers who died during the 1914-1915 spotted fever epidemic. The wreaths were laid by Brigadier General Veljko Todorović, Colonel Prof. Dr Marijan Novaković and head of the Niš military hospital Colonel Dr Ratomir Vitas with full medical honours.
On the occasion, a digital mammography unit was officially put to use by Dr Zoran Vesić. The unit is a donation from the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia. Dr Vesić thanked the Delegation for the donation and outlined that the mammography unit would be available not only to military personnel, but also to civilians.

During the ceremony at the Niš Army Home, an exhibition called ’The History of Serbian Armed Forces Medical Services’ was put on display. On the occasion, Brigadier General Dr Veljko Todorović said that that day was a perfect opportunity to remember everybody who contributed to the Serbian armed forces military services with their knowledge and skills.