25.09.2017.
The 22nd Congress of the Balkan Military Medical Committee opens
Twenty-second congress of the Balkan Military Medical Committee has opened tonight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belgrade and will last until 28th September. Representatives of Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Turkey are also taking part in this event.
Addressing the audience, Colonel Dr Uglješa Jovičić, as the Congress President, said that although Serbia is the youngest member of the Balkan Committee, a regional initiative that has been gathering military medical officers from the region for more than two decades, doctors of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces have been involved in its activities for many years and they very successfully represent the military health service of our country.He reminded that the Balkan Committee is a unique initiative that is not only known for gathering professionals in its call to speak about the most current topics, but it also further strengthens the foundation of military-medical cooperation of the Balkan countries.
- Members of the military health service of the Republic of Serbia have gained great experience so far through participation in various humanitarian activities. During joint medical engagement, military-military exercises, in peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the United Nations and the European Union, but unfortunately also frequent wars in these areas. Throughout 178 years of its existence, that we marked this year, the Serbian military medical service gained a great reputation among the people. The congress which is before us is part of cherising this long tradition and numerous generations of dedicated medical personnel - Colonel Dr Jovičić said in his address. Dr Uglješa Jovičić, the Acting Head of the Military Health Department of the Ministry of Defence, spoke about the thematic areas that will be dealt with by experts and scientists from six countries this year. They will speak about current approaches in surgery, internal medicine, prevention and diagnostics, as well as psychiatry and experimental medicine. During the meeting, three round tables will be organized - about the transplantation of solid organs and stem cells, novelties in the treatment of acute and chronic wounds, as well as military medicine in peacekeeping operations.
Lieutenant Colonel Prof. Boban Đorđević addressed the participants on behalf of the National Board of the Balkan Military Medical Committee and wished participants a successful work in the congress. He particularly greeted the present representatives of IMIHO (Interconnection of Military Hospitals) and pointed out that these congresses, from a professional point of view, are a perfect opportunity to share valuable experiences from specific branches of medicine, but also they are equally important for gaining important friendships and contact.According to him, the details of this year's congress - with leading topics in the field of surgery, internal and preventive medicine, along with inevitable roundtables - were announced at the pre-congress meeting in Romania. As the Lieutenant Colonel Dr Đorđević pointed out, this year's conference will also discuss one of the more recent topics in the region - the experience of military doctors during their engagement in peacekeeping operations, and the professional programme will be enriched by the participation of young military doctors.
- We are especially proud of the participation of young military doctors and with great reason we emphasize that this year the ninth class enrolled on basic medicine studies at the Medical Faculty of the Military Medical Academy at the University of Defence. In front of them, the future military doctors, there is a demanding path, and events like this are an exceptional opportunity for them to develop the continuity of scientific research as early as at the beginning of their career - Lieutenant Colonel Prof. Đorđević said .
In the continuation of the meeting, the heads of delegations of the participating countries addressed the participants and an appropriate artistic cultural programme was performed.
The opening ceremony was attended by Aleksandar Živković, State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Colonel Prof. Miroslav Vukosavljević, Acting Head of MMA, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, the City of Belgrade, colleagues of doctors and numerous guests.
Congress of the Balkan Military Medical Committee is held every year in another country, and Serbia hosted and gained valuable experience in organizing the 17th Congress. At this year's congress, traditional awards for the best oral and poster presentations will be awarded, and the 41st post-congress meeting of heads of military-medical services will be an opportunity to define further steps in improving regional military medical cooperation.
