22.01.2010.

New equipment in Nis hospital

Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac has launched today a new multislice scanner in the military hospital in Nis which is marking its 132nd year, while also opening a new orthopedic OR.

“This scanner which costs some 50 million RSD will enable SAF soldiers and pensioners as well as the civilians to undergo modern diagnostic examinations here in Nis, as the minister said stressing the importance of military health care system, which is an additional reason why we have people in military medical service engaged in international operations.

“Let me remind you that it has been two years since we placed MMA at the civilians’ disposal for the benefit of their treatment, and this year we have done the same with the Nis military hospital and the military medical center in Novi Sad.

“This hospital will generate some 2 million EUR from providing medical care to the civilians in this area, stressing that he hoped this would enable better treatment and medical care for those citizens gravitating towards Nis, as a rather important defense center of our country.

The equipment was procured in cooperation with the City of Nis, and the upcoming period will be dedicated to the exchange of certain assets and building cheap flats.

Speaking about the professionalization of the army, Minister Sutanovac stated that so far some 6000 people have been deployed while another 4000 men will be employed this year.
He expressed special pleasure at seeing the SAF as the honorable and trustworthy institution , while Mod is not on the list of corrupted ministries.

Answering the reporters’ questions, Sutanovac stated that the issue of joining NATO is irrelevant at the moment, as our membership is still “a long shot” , as it requires a referendum on joining Serbia to NATO and that he saw no possibility for “Serbia to be accepted in this organization at such a short notice”.

"It is only natural to convene a referendum which would decide upon such a crucial issue. He mentioned that he just confirmed what President Boris Tadic said. We should continue the process initiated in 2006, at the time of Kostunica’s government, who was one of the signatories of the Partnership for Peace Program, which provides us with a pool of opportunities and benefits for our military and country, which we wish to make the best of in the shortest time.

Today’s ceremony was attended by Undersecretary in the Ministry of Defense Zoran Vesic, Head of the Military Medical Department Brig. Gen. Veljko Todorovic, Deputy Army Commander Brig. Gen. Vidoje Zivkovic, Acting Chief of the Nis military hospital Colonel Nebojsa Djenic, chief of our military medical team in Chad Col. Slavisa Ciric, MD and the representatives of the locals self-government, of the Serbian Orthodox Church and of the military diplomatic corps.