We are happy to announce the successful clinical installation of yet another Versius surgical robotic system in the Czech Republic. The General University Hospital in Prague, at the 1st Surgical Clinic of Abdominal, Thoracic, and Trauma Surgery, has become the second institution in the country to embark on the journey of robotic-assisted surgery with the CMR Versius system.
Over the past three months, we have completed training for the first three groups of dedicated surgeons and nurses and have supported them through their initial procedures in the operating room. In the coming months, we look forward to establishing a regular robotic surgery program, covering abdominal, colorectal, thoracic, and HPB surgeries.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to:
- Prof. MUDr. Zdeněk Krška, DrSc. – Head of the Department,
- Doc. MUDr. David Hoskovec, Ph.D. – Deputy Head of the Department,
- Doc. MUDr. Ulrych Jan, Ph.D. – Head of the Robotic Program,
and all the dedicated surgeons, nurses, and biomedical engineers who made this milestone possible.
A special thank you to the Professional Education Team from CMR and our colleagues at Promedica for their invaluable support.
We look forward to a fruitful collaboration between the clinic and CMR, further advancing the field of robotic surgery in the region.
Medical technologies team
The traditional congress of doctors and nurses who are dedicated to the treatment of diabetes in the most vulnerable patients, from defenceless infants to defiant adolescents, was held from Friday to Saturday, 21-22 March, in Prague’s Hotel DUO. The results of new studies and the experience of large centres and smaller outpatient clinics were presented. Above all, the necessity of an individual approach not only to patients but also to parents with a broader concept of the problem was often mentioned. It is not just about the treatment of diabetes itself as in adults, but about the need to ensure healthy growth, different family backgrounds and the associated education and understanding of the issue.
Our company is perceived as an important and reliable partner of self-monitoring of glucose by glucose meter. The latter is still, even in the age of sensors, an essential verification element for continuous or immediate glycemic monitoring (CGM/FGM). Patients with type 1 diabetes still have glucometer measurement as a mainstay of therapy. There are many cases where these patients (or caregivers) reject sensory measurements for a variety of reasons and still prefer glucometers.
The program focused on the early stages of diabetes and preventive treatment options to delay the onset of diabetes, complications, practical strategies for education and treatment, with a focus on adolescent diabetes and technology.
Finally, Prof. Šumnik presented the results of the Sweet Stud Group achieved by individual centres caring for children with DM (136 centres from 59 countries across the continents). The results show a direct link to the level of compensation achieved and the availability of technologies for the controlled treatment of diabetes (glucose monitoring, continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pumps and smart insulin pens).
This year saw a record attendance of 191 doctors and nurses from across the country and we are delighted to support this very beneficial educational event.
DIABETOLOGY Division
On January 30, 2025, a Shoulder Symposium was held in Plzeň on the topic of “Current Trends in Arthroscopic Reconstructive Surgeries and Shoulder Physiotherapy, Not Only for Athletes,” a top-tier gathering of experts in shoulder surgery and rehabilitation.
The perfectly organized symposium, led by Prof. MUDr. Petr Zeman, Ph.D., MBA, brought together leading Czech and international specialists in shoulder surgery and rehabilitation. The main topics included the latest advancements in rotator cuff reconstruction, innovative surgical techniques, rehabilitation strategies, and the long-term outcomes of patient treatment.
One of the highlights of the event was the participation of renowned Czech experts and international speakers, including Dr. Ion-Andrei Popescu, M.D., MHBA, Dr. Markas Fiodorovas, and Dr. Jakub Stefaniak. They shared their experiences with arthroscopic techniques in managing massive rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability, and the use of virtual reality in orthopedic surgery.
Great interest was also sparked by the presentation of MUDr. Radim Kalina, Ph.D., who introduced the Regeneten bioinductive implant and its benefits for rotator cuff healing and improving patient treatment outcomes.
The main partners of the symposium were Promedica and Smith+Nephew, who supported the event and contributed to its success.
Orthopedics Division
On 28 – 31 January 2025, the 27th edition of Colours of Sepsis took place in Ostrava, where our company could not be absent. The conference was attended by the Intensive Care Medicine, Interventional Urology and Venous Therapy and Medical Consumables divisions.
This year, the Intensive Medicine Division mainly presented the new ABLE central venous catheters and innovations in the SINAPI chest suction system. There was interest in these products not only from nurses but also from physicians across specialties (ARO, Surgery, Urgent and others). Other products presented included: chest trocars, closed suction system and oral care products.
The Medical Consumables division took the opportunity to showcase an expanded portfolio of disposable instruments and newly included items such as pre-filled saline syringes.
And the Interventional Urology and Venous Therapy division presented a portfolio of midline, picc and gentle sutureless fixation devices from Belgian company Bedal FlexGrip. With these gentle fixations it is possible to secure from venous catheters, drains, urinary catheters, nephrostomies, epicystostomies… the portfolio also includes the newly added flush syringes.
We had a really great number of participants again this year, we took away a lot of new contacts from the congress and we are looking forward to the next edition.
IM, SZM and IUVT divisions
photo © Promedica, Sanopharm
The 23rd National Congress of the Czech Wound Healing Society with international participation took place on January 16–17, 2025, at the University Conference Center of the University of Pardubice.
The congress motto was “Wound Care Across the Life Continuum: From Childhood to Old Age,” reflecting the wide range of wounds occurring at different stages of human life.
The congress program included expert lectures and practical workshops focused on sharing the latest knowledge and innovations in wound care. Participants had the opportunity to discuss various types of wounds and approaches to their treatment across age groups.
The event brought together professionals from various fields – doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and others – fostering multidisciplinary collaboration in patient wound care.
As in previous years, this year’s congress received positive feedback for the café-style booth concept. The comfort and pleasant atmosphere offered clients a space for inquiries and the development of new business opportunities.
The congress proved to be an excellent platform for networking, education, promotion, and sales.
Wound Care Division
Dear business partners,
on behalf of the entire Promedica team, I would like to wish you a peaceful Christmas and a successful start to the New Year.
Thank you for your trust and I look forward to further cooperation in the coming years.
Pavel Hanuš
CEO of Promedica
Autumn is a time of intense activity in the Czech Republic, focusing on diabetes prevention and awareness, culminating around November 14th, World Diabetes Day. Across the country, events are held to raise public knowledge about the disease, with the diabetology division actively participating in many.
One significant event was a preventive action at the Nový Smíchov Shopping Center on November 11th, organized by Novo Nordisk. Nearly 500 visitors had their blood glucose levels tested, underwent eye examinations, body measurements were taken, and nutritional advice and medical consultations were provided. Patient organizations were also present, helping to raise awareness about diabetes.
Another key event was the Health Day at the Regional Hospital in Kladno on November 14th, focusing on diabetes and HIV prevention, along with breast self-examination workshops. The support of the Alliance of Diabetic Patients of the Czech Republic and the Czech Diabetes Union helped increase awareness of the necessity for regular glucose monitoring.
On November 19th, the diabetology division participated in an educational day at the Recuperative Stay organized by the Czech Diabetes Union. The event focused on educating about self-monitoring of glucose levels and promoting the correct use of glucometers. Around 40 educational sessions were held, which explained the operation of glucometers for individuals with abnormal sugar levels, particularly in light of current legislation complicating access to these devices.
Another highlight of the autumn program was the Multidisciplinary Foot Care Congress (not only) for Diabetics, held on November 15–16 in Ostrava. Organized by the Czech Podiatry Society, this congress enhanced knowledge in diabetic care, orthopedics, and urgent intervention techniques. Promedica played a key role as a supplier of glucometers and an active partner in educational activities, contributing to strengthening the professional competencies of participants.
This series of events underscores the importance of prevention and continuous education in diabetology, which is key to ensuring a better quality of life for diabetes patients in the Czech Republic.
Once again after a year, the Division of Diabetology was a participant in the XIXth year of a unique event of its kind called Náchod Interdisciplinary Days, which took place on 11-12 November 2024.
In the beautiful Art Nouveau premises of the Hotel u Beránka in the very centre of Náchod, our important partner EDUMED s.r.o. traditionally took care of a busy and varied programme.
The conference included a wide range of lectures, workshops and sister sessions. New possibilities in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart failure, valvular heart defects, cardiac arrhythmias, diabetes mellitus, obesity, sleep-disordered breathing, chronic kidney disease, dyslipidemia and osteoporosis were presented. Part of the professional program was devoted to intensive care medicine. Possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration were discussed, including aspects of care coordination between general practitioners, specialist practices and hospitals.
On behalf of the entire team, we are pleased to be a proud partner in the diabetes section with our high-quality and reliable Contour family products from Ascensia Diabetes Care.
Diabetology Division
In early November, a symposium focused primarily on clinical biochemistry laboratory issues took place in Písek, traditionally held in the pleasant environment of Penzion U Malířských. This was the 14th annual seminar dedicated mainly to clinical biochemistry. The conference also featured lectures on immunology and the currently much-discussed artificial intelligence (AI).
As always, the seminar was hosted by Dr. Pavel Malina, Ph.D., Head of the Clinical Biochemistry Department at Písek Hospital. More than 50 laboratory experts and professionals attended the event, including Professor Palička (University Hospital Hradec Králové), Professor Jabor (IKEM), Professor Friedecký (University Hospital Olomouc), Dr. Rajdl (University Hospital Plzeň), Assoc. Prof. Franeková (IKEM), and others.
Participants listened to presentations on topics such as TAT (Turnaround Time), minimum sample volume, mass spectrometry, and a report from the EFLM Conference in Padua. Several case studies were also presented, perfectly connecting the activities of human laboratories and clinical departments.
The two-day meeting was conducted in an informal atmosphere with frequent discussions and was very beneficial for the participants. The symposium was held under the auspices of the Czech Society of Clinical Biochemistry. Our division was present among several other sponsors.
We are very pleased that we were able to participate in this event.
Diagnostics Division
It is with great pleasure that we would like to inform you about a significant event that took place on 24th October at the Department of Paediatric and Adult Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital. Under the guidance of Prof. Vojtěch Havlas, a robotic-assisted implantation of a total knee replacement was successfully performed. This revolutionary operation was performed using the CORI device from Smith+Nephew, which is a leader in the field of robotically assisted orthopaedics. The entire surgical team appreciated all the benefits of the robotic surgery, which include higher accuracy of implant placement, minimized soft tissue damage, faster patient recovery and reduced risk of complications.
This successful surgery is proof of how modern technology can fundamentally advance the quality of healthcare. We are proud that Promedica is able to make this technological innovation available to Czech patients and thus support progress in the field of orthopaedics.
We thank all those who participated in this successful event and look forward to further cooperation that will bring new opportunities for our healthcare system.
Division of Orthopaedics
