Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia
 
03.03.2014.

Formal Ceremony on the occasion of 170 years of the Military Medical Academy



On the occasion of marking the jubilee of 170 years of the Military Medical Academy, a formal ceremony has been held tonight in the House of Guard in Topcider, attended by Tomislav Nikolic, the President of the Republic of Serbia, Nebojsa Rodic, Minister of Defence in the technical government, representatives of the Government, the Serbian Patriarch Irinej, Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, General Ljubisa Dikovic, representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, representatives of religious communities, foreign military representatives, as well as friends and associates of the Military Medical Academy.

Congratulating on the anniversary, President Nikolic recalled of the rich tradition of that military medical institution, noting that Serbian citizens have traditionally trusted the most the pillars of the Serbian statehood, among which, Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces are seen as a symbol of these institutions.

- Military health care system had great impact on the establishment of such trust, the vital part of which is also the driving force of the Military Medical Academy. It is an institution of national importance that has been one of the largest and most respected military hospital in South Eastern Europe for decades – President Nikolic said.

According to him, the exam for which our doctors deserve admiration and respect of their colleagues around the world and gain reputation is taken also within the rich international cooperation and commitment of our medical teams in the UN and the EU multinational operations.

- This is how the promotion of the knowledge and skills of our military doctors and medical staff should be made and this is how our country should be worthily represented in the world – President Nikolic said assessing that the military medical personnel is the pride of Serbia because it still sets and defends the highest standards in patient care, preventive medicine, education, as well as in scientific research.

The President also expressed his belief that the personnel employed at the MMA will justify its reputation at home and abroad in the period to come as well, continuing to achieve excellent results in this highly ethical call, as well as to continue with technological modernization and training of young doctors and medical staff.

- I expect that MMA will maintain and improve the reputation of an elite medical institution, to remain recognised for its quality in the region and the world, to remain the pride of the defence system, health care and the state in general - President Nikolic concluded.

According to Brigadier General Prof. Dr. Marijan Novakovic, Head of the Military Medical Academy, that house has passed a long development path since 1844, when it has been founded by the decree of Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic until today, when it is celebrating 170 years of its existence.

- During the long and tumultuous decades our institution used to change the names and places where it was located, always following the fate of its people, growing and expanding its humane activity keeping abreast with the Serbian state, being and remaining one of its symbols to the present time – General Novakovic pointed out, adding that the jubilee falls in the hour when our country celebrates the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War in which the Serbian military health care gave its great contribution to the victory of the Allied forces. Tonight’s programme is a reminder that the MMA has grown together deeply with the Serbian folk tradition and statehood in all phases of its work.

He pointed out that the MMA was established with the noble aim to be with its people in times of wars and suffering, and in times of rising and developing, and whenever it was hard and the hardest, its doctors and nurses were at their working places, on the front lines and front lines of care and without rights to mistake.

- As an institution of national importance, an integral part of the Ministry of Defence and the Republican health care system, and also the system of education and science, MMA still has a goal, at the same time, to be the basis of our work. It is about a constant, both necessary and needed improvements of health services. With the continued care of the patients, for whom we exist, we educate also the future generations of doctors. Applying the world health standards, the MMA has been intensively engaged in scientific research, and always in the service of a more efficient treatment, cooperate with other countries and international organizations around the world – Head of MMA emphasized indicating that the employees of the MMA see the constant modernization of practical and scientific potentials as their own ethical, professional and national commitment, with the imperative aspiration to improve the health care in Serbia along with all the vocational institutions.

In addition to the MMA jubilee, programme of this evening ceremony was dedicated to the celebration of the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, so the guests were able to enjoy in the performance of the compositions of renowned music artists, accompanied by the "Stanislav Binički" Art Ensemble and drama monologues of actors.


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Ceremony | FLV
Chief of the Military Academy, Brigadier General Prof. Dr.Marijan Novakovic | FLV
President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic | FLV