29.07.2021.

182nd anniversary of military medical service marked, employment for 66 new people

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, attended today a ceremony marking the 182nd anniversary of the founding of the military medical service at the Military Medical Academy. The military health care has thus been strengthened by 66 new employees, to whom Minister Stefanović handed over the decisions on permanent employment.

He congratulated members of the military health on the anniversary of their service and thanked them for their dedicated work over the past year.

- It is not enough to say thank you for everything you have done. The military health care system has erased the boundaries of what is possible and what is impossible. Nothing is impossible for military health anymore, everything can be done. You have managed to respond to all the challenges, both the traditional ones and the brand new one facing the whole world – Covid-19, - Minister Stefanović said.

He pointed out that everybody working in the military health care system, regardless of their position, had shown with their efficient and dedicated work that they were true heroes.

- When I say heroes, I really mean it. Only those who did not see what it looks like to work in a Covid hospital, but also to treat non-COVID diseases and provide help to a huge number of people, could call you anything but heroes - Minister Stefanović said.

He added that this was a really huge sacrifice, a huge risk and a real fight for people's lives, and that was exactly why the people working in the military health care system were deeply appreciated.

Speaking about the Military Medical Academy, the Minister of Defence said that today the burden placed on its members might be even greater than before, and noted that the Military Medical Academy was still on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

- And it is very difficult for a tertiary care institution to provide help to everyone who seeks it, and these people are doing just that - Stefanović pointed out.

Minister Stefanović also pointed out that he was extremely proud of the new employees who were part of the military health system today, including doctors, nurses, chemical, radiology and laboratory technicians, physiotherapists and non-medical staff.

According to him, more than 360 people have taken up employment with the military health care system over the last nine months.

- The government truly appreciates the work of all members of the military health service. I want to say a big thank for not being exclusively motivated by money. I want to thank you for staying with your country, staying to fight for people's health and not always thinking about yourselves. That is why you really deserve full recognition - Minister Stefanović said, adding that the government would continue to work hard to improve the living standards of the military health personnel.

He said that the government would fight for them, just as members of the military health had fought for the well-being of every citizen of this country.

- We will fight to provide you with better salaries, more equipment and better working conditions, and all you need to do is continue to work as before. Fight for lives, fight for people's health, fight for every citizen of this country who comes to seek help, who sees hope in you and who expects the military health care to always be top quality, which you really are - concluded Minister Stefanović.

The Deputy Head of the Military Health Department, Colonel Radivoje Anđelković, noted that the Medical Service Day was celebrated on July 30, because on that date in 1839, Dr. Emmerich Lindenmaier had been appointed as a staff doctor in the then General Staff.

- That corps, throughout its existence, was guided by the most humane of all commandments - help your neighbour. From that time until today, the Serbian Armed Forces medical corps has provided active support in the most difficult situations, in eight great wars that have been fought by the Serbian people and the Serbian Armed Forces since then - Colonel Anđelković emphasized.

- Based on objective assessment, it can be concluded that the medical service is a valuable resource of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces at the domestic and international levels. The current situation and the results achieved in the fight against Covid-19 once again showed the strength and importance of the military medical service for our country and people. This fight is not over yet and we are facing new challenges related to the immunization, which is the only certain life-saving measure, and the possibility of providing mass treatment to people suffering from Covid-19 again - Colonel Anđelković concluded.

Medical technician Marjan Salijević is one of the medical workers who received the decision on permanent employment today. He points out that he is grateful to the Ministry of Defence and the Military Medical Academy for giving him a chance by hiring him after three years of contract work.

- I am overjoyed about getting a permanent job in such a renowned health institution. For the last three years, I have been working here as a medical technician, as a contract soldier. This is a great chance that the Ministry of Defence and the Military Medical Academy have given to me. For the first two years I worked in general surgery at the Military Medical Academy, and for the last year and a half I have been working in the “Karaburma" Covid centre, where I gained valuable experience and met many colleagues who became my friends - Salijević said.

Miljana Stamatović, a Bachelor of Law who also got permanent employment today, points out that it is important for her that she will be working for a military medical institution, since she comes from a military family.

- I will be working in the legal department. It is my first job, so I am extremely excited about it. This means a lot to me because I have a small child and now we can finally plan for the future. There is no more uncertainty, so this is an important day for me and my family - Stamatović said.

The ceremony was attended by members of the Collegiums of the Minister of Defence and the Chief of the General Staff, as well as members of the Military Health Department and the Military Medical Academy.