The central part of the symposium was the "live case" segment, featuring a direct broadcast from the CATH LAB, where revascularization was performed on a complex cardiac patient, showcasing contemporary therapeutic approaches, while the panel discussion further covered a wide range of clinical aspects of chronic coronary syndrome and various treatment modalities.
Dr. Nedim Memišević, Head of the Department of Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology at ASA Hospital, stated that the professional symposium was organized with the aim of gathering doctors and partners with whom this healthcare institution has been intensively collaborating recently, and to exchange experiences in treating cardiovascular diseases.
He noted that ASA Hospital celebrated its second anniversary a few days ago, and this gathering is also an opportunity to affirm the development of the Department of Cardiology, including interventional cardiology, as one of the new services at this hospital.
He emphasized that ASA Hospital applies contemporary therapeutic approaches recommended by relevant professional associations, with the goal of providing complete modern therapy for cardiovascular diseases. According to him, through organizing professional gatherings and continuous education, ASA Hospital systematically works on improving the quality of healthcare services, both within the institution itself and in the broader framework of the healthcare system of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the clear aim of achieving the highest treatment standards. Additionally, by signing a contract with the Solidarity Fund of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2026, a significant portion of services in the fields of cardiology and cardiac surgery have been made more accessible to patients.
Dr. Alan Jahić, a specialist in internal medicine and subspecialist in cardiology at ASA Hospital, stated that he had the honor of participating in organizing the first interventional cardiology symposium at this healthcare institution, which enabled the exchange of professional experiences among doctors from different parts of the country. Jahić highlighted that during the symposium, an extremely demanding "live case" from the angio suite was conducted, covering the complete clinical entity of chronic coronary syndrome, providing participants with insight into contemporary approaches to treating complex patients.
He emphasized that the symposium also demonstrated that ASA Hospital possesses the professional and technical capacities for adequately managing complex interventional cardiac patients, in accordance with modern therapeutic standards.
Dr. Aziz Šukalo, Director of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Region at Bosnalijek, stated that Bosnalijek is the main and leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing that the company not only produces quality medicines but also holds all relevant regional and European certificates.
Šukalo highlighted that Bosnalijek, in addition to drug manufacturing, provides strong support to the entire healthcare system of Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly through educating doctors to enhance their knowledge, which ultimately directly reflects on the quality of patient treatment.
He added that one example of such support is today's educational gathering in collaboration with ASA Hospital, which Bosnalijek supported. This gathering enabled healthcare workers from other cities to attend, where doctors had the opportunity to witness the professional capacities of ASA Hospital through live presentations, bringing new insights into patient treatment, from Bugojno and Tešanj to Bihać.
Dr. Omer Bedak, Director of the General Hospital Tešanj and a cardiology specialist, stated that the significance of professional symposiums, like today's, is immeasurable for improving healthcare, especially when it comes to treating cardiovascular diseases.
According to him, daily clinical practice shows that coronary disease is one of the greatest health challenges in Bosnian-Herzegovinian society. He also pointed out the fact that cardiovascular diseases are often less socially perceived compared to malignant diseases, although statistically they claim more lives, reminding that globally, about 50 million people die annually, of which nearly 20 million die from heart diseases.
As he noted, every new approach, lecture, and advancement in treatment, even minimal shifts, have a significant effect, because every percentage of improvement contributes to a better and more efficient response from the healthcare system.
Dr. Almir Rošić, Head of the Department of Internal Medicine with Hemodialysis at the Cantonal Hospital Zenica, stated that the significance of today's symposium cannot be emphasized enough, assessing that the gathering was exceptionally well-organized and executed, and he particularly highlighted the importance of the direct broadcast, which allowed participants to follow the complete procedure in real-time.
He expressed the expectation that such professional meetings would be organized more frequently, emphasizing that they are of exceptional importance for healthcare workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Those present highlighted that the common goal of healthcare institutions is to reduce cardiovascular mortality in the country and emphasized their readiness to continue cooperation with ASA Hospital in achieving that goal.
ASA Hospital, as part of ASA Medical Group – an integrated healthcare system that also includes Eurofarm polyclinics and the ASA Institute, remains committed to continuously improving the quality of healthcare through connecting knowledge, resources, and contemporary approaches, with the aim of providing comprehensive and patient-centered healthcare services.