Manfred Pentz, Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Relations and Bureaucracy Reduction of the federal state of Hesse, Germany, visited the International Medical Center Priora in Čepin as part of his official visit to Croatia.
Accompanied by his delegation, Minister Pentz toured the internal medicine and urology departments, explored the medical laboratory diagnostics unit, and was introduced to the latest robotic technology and the team of top-tier specialists who position this hospital at the forefront of European medicine.
“It is essential for us from Germany to spend a few days here. Croatia is part of Europe. The International Medical Center Priora is truly an excellent European project, and as a European minister, I want to support it,” said Minister Manfred Pentz.
Mr. Tomislav Kalem, M.D., Ph.D., director of IMC Priora, who introduced the guests to the hospital’s mission and guiding principles, added: “Minister Pentz is committed to reducing bureaucracy in the European Union, which is a critical and challenging task, as bureaucracy often hinders development — including in medicine. As for Croatian-German cooperation in healthcare, it is especially present in education. There are associations of German medical specialists offering scholarships for training programs.”
Manfred Pentz, a politician from Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is of Croatian descent on his mother’s side. He actively cooperates with the Croatian community in Germany and frequently highlights the strong relations between the two countries.
As part of his multi-day visit to Croatia, Minister Pentz chose to visit IMC Priora in Čepin near Osijek, recognizing it as one of the most modern hospitals in the region and a workplace for physicians who had spent a significant part of their careers in Germany. Mr. Tomislav Kalem, director of Priora and head of the Department of Urology, Uro-oncology, and Robotic Surgery, as well as Prof. Milomir Ninković, head of the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, Esthetic Surgery and Hand Surgery, both returned to Croatia from Germany specifically to work at this private hospital. Both are internationally renowned in their respective fields, and they have maintained close professional ties with colleagues in Germany, further contributing to the friendship between the two countries.
“Since Croatia joined the European Union, many of our doctors have moved to Germany or other Western countries. At Priora, we are proud of the reverse trend — doctors from Germany are coming to work with us, and in doing so, we are undoubtedly raising the level of healthcare in Croatia,” said Dr. Kalem.
The International Medical Center Priora in Čepin is a specialized hospital comprising the following departments: Plastic, Reconstructive, Esthetic and Hand Surgery, Urology, Uro-oncology and Robotic Surgery, Medical Laboratory Diagnostics, and Internal Medicine.
Priora is equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology comparable to leading European hospitals. In June 2024, the first Da Vinci robotic surgeries in Croatia, specifically for prostate cancer, were performed at IMC Priora.
In addition, prostate biopsies are performed using the Mona Lisa Dx Biobot system, which allows for a more precise, minimally invasive, and practical approach to prostate cancer detection.
The German delegation was also welcomed by Osijek-Baranja County Prefect Mato Lukić, who stated:
“We are pleased to have Minister Pentz visiting Osijek-Baranja County. As you can see, it’s no coincidence that he is here at Priora. I’m glad we can talk about international cooperation — which falls within the minister’s responsibility — and collaboration in healthcare, where Priora contributes not only in Croatia but throughout Europe and even globally, as this is truly one of the highest-quality hospitals in the world. What’s especially important to us in the County is that doctors who have spent part of their careers in Germany are returning to such an international institution and are now applying their knowledge here at Priora.”
