“I crossed half the world to find Dr. Ninković. Finally, I can stand on my feet again.”Al Khamsan Ali Hussain M., a 29-year-old medical technician from Saudi Arabia, initially approached Professor Ninković at his former workplace in Munich. Then he boarded a bus and arrived in Čepin.
A patient from Saudi Arabia arrives in Čepin for surgery
He traveled thousands of kilometers by plane and bus, facing many obstacles but refusing to give up. In the end, this young man from Saudi Arabia found Prof. Dr. Sc. Milomir Ninković at IMC Priora in Čepin near Osijek. The plastic surgeon successfully resolved the health issue that had troubled him for years.
Al Khamsan had almost no feeling in his foot, could not bend his right leg—the result of a routine vascular surgery in a hospital in Saudi Arabia, during which a medical error damaged a nerve in his leg. What began as a minor problem had escalated significantly.
“For two and a half years, I searched for a solution in Saudi Arabia but couldn’t find it. I took medications, but nothing changed. My leg hurt, I couldn’t bend it, and I had difficulty walking,” begins Al Khamsan Ali Hussain M., a medically trained technician employed at a government hospital in Saudi Arabia.
Reconstructive surgery: successful nerve transplantation with no complications
During discussions with acquaintances back home, he learned about Prof. Milomir Ninković, a plastic surgeon who could restore function to his leg. He even consulted a friend from the UAE, who gave the same recommendation. He didn’t know then that Dr. Ninković had left Munich, where he had spent two decades heading the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, Hand, and Burn Surgery at Bogenhausen Hospital. Since late 2023, he has been working at IMC Priora in Čepin.
“Professor Ninković is known in Arab countries as one of the world’s best doctors, and that’s how I found him,” Al Khamsan says.
He traveled to Germany in the spring, only to be told that the doctor had “aged a bit” and had moved to a new hospital in Čepin. They offered him a replacement, but he didn’t like the approach. He then tried another Munich hospital but was not impressed. A friend then told him he knew Professor Ninković and would try to find out where he was. So he took a bus to Čepin—he says with a smile, describing his journey to healing.
“All this time I was alone,” he adds.
Meeting at Priora: the patient from Saudi Arabia finds his surgeon
Professor Ninković recalls that afternoon when they received a call that a Saudi Arabian patient was at the Priora entrance, looking for him. Since Al Khamsan had limited English, they didn’t understand immediately what he needed.
“We examined him right away and scheduled the surgery. He returned to Saudi Arabia and later came back for the procedure, accompanied by his father and uncle. Arab patients often receive strong family support—it means a great deal to them. We operated on him and discharged him three days later. The surgery went perfectly and took foura and a half hours,” explains Prof. Ninković.
A primary nerve transplantation was performed to reconstruct the main nerve in the lower leg.
From the very beginning, I was amazed by Dr. Ninković’s approach to my problem. Thank God the surgery was successful—I no longer feel any pain and hope for a full recovery,” says a satisfied Al Khamsan.
He had never heard of Slavonia or Čepin before, and his only association with Croatia was:
“Luka Modrić!” — he exclaims first. He also remembered that Game of Thrones, which he loves, was filmed in Dubrovnik.
“I traveled halfway around the world to find Professor Ninković—and it was worth it. I didn’t know that besides having a top doctor here, the landscapes were so beautiful and the people so kind. I will return to Slavonia and Croatia. I’d love to get married in this region—but even if I marry in my own country, I’ll come back to Čepin and Hotel Mattera for my honeymoon,” promises the young Saudi man.
“Joking aside, the success rate for such operations in Saudi Arabia is only 2%. Thanks to Dr. Ninković, the pain is gone, and I can walk again. Regarding the hospital itself, I’m delighted with the care, attention, cleanliness, food, and everything else during my stay,” he adds.
Patient experience: rain, hope, and recovery in Slavonia
The night before the surgery, Čepin was soaked by rain, and since he comes from a desert region, he stepped out into the hospital garden and spread his arms to welcome the rain.
“Rain is very rare in my country, and at that moment, it truly filled me with optimism,” concludes Al Khamsan Ali Hussain M.
IMC Priora: Top-tier medicine and personalized care attract international patients
“For me, this is a routine operation, but for him, it needed to be done in the best possible way. If Arab patients trust someone, they don’t mind the journey to get here. We’ve had patients from as far as Dubai to Munich for small facial scar corrections. Our first Priora patient from Arab countries was a child from Baghdad. They are truly willing to travel great distances to come to Čepin for surgery.”
“Why this loyalty? I believe it stems from their culture. If one family member has a positive experience, they are more likely to pass it on, and they tend to trust people more than they trust media or social networks. They are delighted, and three elements play a significant role: professionalism, kindness, and charm—qualities we Slavs are truly known for here in our region,” concludes Dr. Ninković.
