Today, Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić attended a ceremony marking the Military Medical Academy Day.
Addressing the audience, Minister Gašić said that the Military Medical Academy “has always been and remains a place for science and knowledge and is synonymous with integrity, progress and development”.

- The Military Medical Academy rests on the firm foundations of a continuous struggle for human health – the medical knowledge, skills, and abilities of numerous generations of healthcare professionals, who have always been devoted to the same task. This institution is characterized by true philanthropy and the gratitude of those who have found a cure here. Its very name is both a symbol and a burden of responsibility for those who work here. The Military Medical Academy’s reputation has been built for decades and does not allow anything less than excellence. But excellence is elusive, because the boundaries of medical science and technology are constantly changing, much faster than before, it seems.

He emphasized that in such circumstances, the current generation of MMA health workers has a task – to justify the reputation of the institution and remain an example of professionalism and expert knowledge.

- It is not an easy task. People do not become experts in any field, especially in medicine, overnight. Prerequisites for this are years of studying, internships, residencies, fellowships, and continuous, so to speak, lifelong training. Therefore, it is of crucial importance, not only for the Military Medical Academy, but for the Ministry of Defence as a whole, that the best doctors and medical technicians who will pass on their knowledge and experience to new generations should mature and remain in this institution, said Minister Gašić.

The Minister of Defence said that another challenge was mastering new technologies in diagnostics and treatment.

- Thanks to a responsible economic policy, the state has significantly increased funding for the defence system, which is reflected in the acquisition of cutting-edge equipment for the Military Medical Academy. We want to make sure that our largest healthcare institution does not fall behind other similar clinics, and therefore we will continue investing in new state-of-the-art equipment, emphasized the Minister of Defence.

At the end of his speech, Minister Gašić congratulated the employees on their anniversary and added that “the Military Medical Academy belongs to the Serbian Armed Forces and selflessly offers its services to other citizens, never forgetting its primary role”.

The Head of the Military Medical Academy, Colonel Prof. Nenad Perišić, MD, Ph.D., said that the Military Medical Academy “has faced many challenges since its establishment, but one thing has remained unchanged - its commitment to improving the medical profession and science, and the absolute professionalism of all the people who have been and remain part of the MMA”.

- Generations of doctors, nurses, and other employees have retained the strength of knowledge, experience, and unity, which have also achieved international recognition. With a continuous effort to provide the best possible healthcare to all our patients, we have set high standards in treatment, innovative medical methods, and the use of state-of-the-art medical technologies. Every patient we have cured, every successful surgery, every life saved, and every word of comfort we have said are proof that we are on the right track. I am convinced that we will continue to do so, because the future belongs to those who adapt and improve every day - emphasized Colonel Perišić and added that only by staying up to date and adopting the latest advancements in medicine can the Military Medical Academy remain one of the leading healthcare institutions in our country and the region.

As a token of gratitude for his assistance in enhancing the quality and effectiveness of the institution, Colonel Nenad Perišić presented the MMA Plaque to Minister Gašić.

On the occasion of the Military Medical Academy Day, the Clinic for General Surgery was declared the best organizational unit in 2024. Prof. Boško Milev, MD, Ph.D., accepted the award presented to him by Colonel Perišić.

Special award - a medal named after Dr. Vladan Đorđević, a famous Military Medical Academy surgeon, was awarded to Brigadier General Prof. Marijan Novaković, MD, Ph.D. (retd) and Prof. Velimir Marković, MD, Ph.D. from the First Surgical Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Serbia. The awardees were presented with the medals by the Head of the Group of Surgical Clinics MMA, Colonel Prof. Boban Đorđević, MD, Ph.D.

The ceremony was attended by members of the Defence Minister’s Collegium, representatives of research and healthcare institutions, members of the Military Medical Academy, and numerous guests.