WELCOME ADDRESS
Dear Generals, Admirals, colleagues and friends,
Romania as the presiding country of the Balkan Military Medical Committee welcomes you to the 27th Congress of BMMC, to be held between 30th of March and 2nd of April 2026. It was the city of Cluj-Napoca in the Northeast part of country which first hosted the event, then Brasov in the heart of Romania and Bucharest- the capital city that hosted two editions of the Congress. It was time to embark on a new chapter in the western region of Romania where the city of Timișoara – gracefully situated along the Bega River- reveals its unique charm through a reach architectural heritage, ample green spaces and dynamic cultural scene. Furthermore, the city proudly held the prestigious European Capital of Culture title in 2023.
More importantly, this city has long been a place where diverse ethnic communities -Romanians, Hungarians, Germans, Serbs, Bulgarians, Italians, Slovaks and Czechs have coexisted here for centuries. Diversity is not just present here, it is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city. People effortlessly switch between languages, nurture friendships across religious and cultural boundaries, and in doing so, create a fertile ground for innovation.
We are proud with the Timișoara Military Emergency Clinical Hospital, one of our oldest military hospital in Romania where the first general anaesthesia in the whole world was performed with ether.
BMMC Congress is considered the keystone of the events of the Military Health Professionals of the member countries of the Balkan Peninsula. The opportunity to exchange ideas and knowledge on Military Medical topics is essential to all of us, considering the present geo-political circumstances in our area and around the world.
We are aiming to increase our practical cooperation between our medical services, because in an age of globalization - in an age that is characterized by terrorism, local armed conflict and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the only way we can hope to meet the medical risks and procedures successfully is by involving more countries in a common approach to the new threats and challenges. Our shared aspiration is to witness a united Balkans within a united Europe, in a peaceful and stable world. Until that version is fully realized, we remain committed to deepening and expanding our collaboration, working ever more closely to address the most pressing military medical challenges and striving to harness our collective capabilities more effectively for our mutual benefit.
Looking forward to meeting you in Timișoara in March 2026,
Lieutenant General Dragoş-Marian POPESCU, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Surgeon General of Romanian Defence Force
President of the 27th Congress of BMMC
