“Acibadem Sistina” Hospital won the award for greatest achievements in medicine at last night’s announcement of the best in several categories at the Story Awards 2019 event. The hospital was presented as an institution that creates a real revolution in healthcare area. The organizers presented the award for the greatest achievements in medicine as a confirmation of leadership and pioneering efforts in the healthcare sector in the country and the region. The Hospital has positioned itself and the country on the world map of healthcare institutions where the most delicate and most complex interventions, especially in cardiac surgery are performed.

On behalf of the hospital, the prize was received by Professor Dr. Aleksandar Nikolikj, the head of the Cardiac Surgery Department of “Acibadem Sistina” Hospital and the man who along with his team performed the surgery – implantation of a total artificial heart.

“Thank you on behalf of ‘Acibadem Sistina’ Hospital and on behalf of the whole team working at this hospital, since without that team all of this could not be realized. Being at the highest ranges of healthcare is a great responsibility really, but also an indicator that people believe in you. By performing complex interventions, such as the implantation of a total artificial heart, the hospital has shown that it is a leader in Macedonia, in the region, but also one of the rare such institutions worldwide. About 4% of people in Macedonia suffer from heart failure. These are people condemned to death without adequate intervention. By implantation of a total artificial heart, we give hope of life to these young people. ‘Acibadem Sistina’ Hospital made the first step and we will not stop”, said Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Nikolikj.

The surgery treatment of implanting a total artificial heart was performed on the night between 11 and 12 July last year; it lasted more than five and a half hours, and was completely performed by “Acibadem Sistina” team, led by Prof. Dr. Nikolikj. The 46-year-old patient from Shtip left home after a month post-operative course and completely returned to his daily obligations.

Realizing this surgery, Macedonia has entered the list of 25 countries in the world where this extremely complicated cardiac surgery is performed, along the countries such as the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Turkey, Great Britain, Italy…