Representatives of the Municipality of Čepin, led by Mayor Dražen Tonkovac, visited the International Medical Center Priora in Čepin on Wednesday. November is the month dedicated to raising awareness about men’s health, with a special emphasis on prostate cancer. The first surgeries in Croatia performed with the Da Vinci robotic system – which has revolutionized prostate cancer treatment – were carried out right here at IMC Priora.
IMC Priora – modern technology and top specialists
An essential chapter in the history of modern medicine in Croatia was written in Čepin. Thanks to cutting-edge technology and top-level specialists, Priora’s urology department is now recognized as one of the best in Europe.
“We performed the first radical prostate surgery using the Da Vinci robotic system – the first not only in Croatia but in this part of Europe – in June 2024. Eighteen months later, we have completed nearly one hundred Da Vinci prostate surgeries, and to a smaller extent, kidney surgeries. Our hospital has two urologists, and we perform all examinations and procedures required during urology specialization. This month holds special significance, as it is the right time to highlight the importance of preventive urological check-ups. If prostate cancer is detected at an early stage, it is almost always curable, and with modern technology, we can preserve both continence and potency. Malignant diseases are increasingly affecting younger individuals, and unfortunately, the number of men coming for preventive exams is still extremely low, which absolutely needs to change,” said mr. sc: Tomislav Kalem, Director of IMC Priora and Head of its Urology Department.
Expansion of the medical team and the return of experts from Europe
The International Medical Center Priora began operating in February 2024 as a specialized hospital that today includes six departments: Urology, Urological Oncology and Robotic Surgery, Plastic, Esthetic, Reconstructive, and Hand Surgery, Orthopedics, Gynecology, Internal Medicine, and Medical Laboratory Diagnostics.
It was precisely because of Priora that urologist Kalem returned from Germany, where he built his career for more than three decades – and he is not the only one.
“We have managed to bring back five nurses from Germany, two from Ireland, and one technician from Bahrain, and we have been operating for less than two years. Four doctors have also returned; three regularly come to perform surgeries at Priora, and two more – a young married couple – will join us next year. In addition, more and more of our employees from Osijek and surrounding areas are buying property in Čepin and planning to continue their lives here,” said Director Kalem proudly.
Mayor Tonkovac emphasized the significance of such investments for the Municipality of Čepin.
“It is an exceptional honor to be here today at Priora, an international hospital that, in less than two years, has firmly placed Čepin on the European healthcare map. Priora is not only important from a medical perspective but also because it creates jobs and brings back people who once left to work abroad. Investments like this bring people back to Slavonia and Croatia. We often talk about the return of young families, but also those who left more than 40 years ago – and we are seeing such examples. I am glad that Priora has contributed to this,” said Mayor Tonkovac, who toured the hospital with his colleagues and learned more about its operations.
