Tomislav Kalem, Director of IMC Priora, participated in the conference “Croatian Immigration and Economic Development: Specificities and Opportunities”
“Our doctors and nurses do not go abroad, but return to Croatia to work at the International Medical Center Priora in Čepin,” said Tomislav Kalem, M.Sc., Director of IMC Priora.
Dr. Tomislav Kalem on immigration
Urologist Tomislav Kalem participated in the conference “Croatian Immigration and Economic Development: Specificities and Opportunities”, organized by the Ministry of Demography and Immigration, and held on Tuesday at the Economic Center of Osijek-Baranja County in Osijek.
Kalem, who himself returned to Croatia precisely because of IMC Priora, after three decades of training, working and living in Germany, spoke on the panel “Return and immigration to Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem – development investments and potentials”.
Dr. Tomislav Kalem on Europe
“I came back because there is no difference in living between any European country and Croatia. I worked for 31 years in Germany, sold my private practice and came to Osijek, where I studied. The quality of life and economic conditions are very good. Priora is a special international hospital, more than 60 percent of us are foreign specialists. Our hospital is among the best in Europe in terms of infrastructure, especially the urology department – we are the only one with three robots, Da Vinci, Mona Lisa and Histologist,” began Director Kalem.
“We managed to bring back five nurses from Germany and two from Ireland and one technician from Bahrain, and we have only been on the market for 18 months. They have all returned and brought their children. Four doctors have also returned, three are coming to operate in Priora, and two more – a young married couple – will arrive next year,” he added.
He also recalled that the first prostate cancer surgeries using the Da Vinci robotic system were performed in Priora, in June 2024.
“Marko Pipunić is a visionary, he truly built a hospital with excellent conditions. A surgeon from the prestigious American Mayo Clinic recently visited us to see what we do and learn from us,” concluded Director Kalem, adding that the largest number of patients also come from abroad.
