Montenegro marks historic first kidney transplant on child
Deputy Prime Minister for Health and Social Welfare of Montenegro Jelena Borovinić Bojović hosted a team of doctors who will be remembered for performing the first kidney transplant on a four-year-old child in Montenegro – one of the most significant achievements in the history of modern medicine.
"This meeting is an opportunity to express our respect and gratitude to our doctors for the knowledge, courage, humanity and perseverance with which they have written a new chapter in Montenegrin medicine. It is our duty to hear about the challenges they faced, but also to jointly consider how to make such historic achievements an established practice and an integral part of an improved healthcare system in Montenegro," Borovinić Bojović said.
The meeting focused on the eight-hour procedure, nearly two years of preparations and the challenges posed by the use of a new type of anaesthesia, as well as improving working conditions, continuous investment in medical staff through professional development and career guidance, the procurement of modern equipment, and further development of healthcare infrastructure, CE Report informs via the Montenegrin government website.
The discussion also covered opportunities for stronger cooperation with leading international and regional medical centres, as well as creating the conditions for Montenegro to become a recognised destination for performing such complex medical procedures in the future.
Borovinić Bojović said that, on behalf of Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and in her own name, she wished to convey sincere gratitude and particular respect to the doctors who, through their knowledge, vision and dedication, have made a significant breakthrough in modern medicine. She stressed that such achievements represent a value that should be further developed and strengthened through continuous investment in knowledge, expertise and innovation.
Being a doctor means combining knowledge and expertise with humanity, empathy and a big heart, especially when a child’s life is in your hands. Outstanding expertise is the foundation of medicine, but it only finds its full meaning when accompanied by deep respect for the patient. It is important that we have people with the knowledge, vision and courage to take a historic step, and the State must stand behind them, Borovinić Bojović said.
The first kidney transplant on a child in Montenegro was performed by Saša Radović, paediatric surgeon-urologist at the Institute for Children’s Diseases, Aleksandar Magdelinić, urologist at the Clinical Centre of Montenegro, and Branko Lutovac, nephrologist at the Institute for Children’s Diseases, with the support of a large number of healthcare professionals and in cooperation with renowned experts from London hospitals Great Ormond Street Hospital and Guy’s Hospital.
More than 200 people were involved in the entire process. Particular emphasis was placed on the contribution of doctors from various specialties, nurses, technicians and non-medical staff, whose role was indispensable at every stage of this demanding undertaking. Without their knowledge, precision, discipline and teamwork, such a complex procedure could not have been successfully performed.
Paediatric nephrologist Jelena Stojanović from London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital praised the professionalism and dedication of the Montenegrin team, while Director of the Institute for Children’s Diseases Željko Maraš said that the first kidney transplant on a paediatric patient represented one of the greatest days in the institution’s decades-long history.
The doctors said that their goal was not simply to perform one historic operation, but to pass on the knowledge and experience they had gained to their colleagues and future generations.
When we leave, we want to leave the system better than we found it, the doctors said.
Those words represent the essence of the medical profession and the most valuable legacy for future generations. It is our responsibility as decision-makers to support these people and give them an additional boost, so that their vision does not remain merely a promise, but becomes a reality. This transplant has shown what is possible when knowledge, professionalism, courage, empathy and system support come together. It is not only a historic medical achievement, but also a powerful message that, by working together, we can build a higher-quality, more modern and more accessible healthcare system for all citizens of Montenegro, Borovinić Bojović concluded.
Photo Montenegrin government website
