As a company that’s maintained a market presence for almost 40 years, Medicon has been oriented since its inception towards the field of dialysis and its representation of famous Swedish manufacturer Gambro, explains company VP Jelena Belokapić Čavkunović
Speaking in this interview for our Nordic special, the Medicon vice president emphasises that this company strives to ensure that our market always has access to latest generation products that enable patients to receive the highest quality dialysis, while we also discussed the identifying of new and innovative solutions in medicine, transfusions and treatments using stem cells and other blood components.
From the very inception of the company, you have directed your efforts towards the field of dialysis and your representation of a distinguished Swedish manufacturer. What were your primary criteria for opting to focus on this specific branch of medicine and choosing your business partner?
— Swedish company Gambro was indeed a pioneer in the production of dialysis machines and consumables.
It is an honour for us to have built this market collaboratively over the course of nearly forty years, navigating various phases and challenges in our business landscape, ensuring that our patients have received the highest quality of dialysis from the very beginning to the present day. The quality of products and services, as well as our approach to business, have been the fundamental criteria for establishing a successful partnership.
We have undergone several transitions with our principal over recent years and today represent these products under a different brand name. However, we continue to operate in the same manner, upholding the same values and business policies.
Approximately 750 patients in Serbia are awaiting a kidney transplant, and in the meantime are dependent on dialysis. Does the quality of your equipment and services directly impact their quality of life?
— The quality of life for these patients is indeed dependent on the quality of dialysis available to them, which is closely linked to the equipment, consumables and services provided. Life is challenging for dialysis patients, who spend several hours on dialysis every other day, which makes it crucial to offer them every possible form of support. While transplantation is the ultimate goal, dialysis serves as a vital substitute for kidney function during this period, as well as a means of preserving other vital organs to the greatest possible extent.
Life is challenging for dialysis patients, who spend several hours on dialysis every other day, which makes it crucial to offer them every possible form of support
This is why continuous efforts are exerted to improve the quality of materials and products essential for the dialysis process, such as dialysers. We strive to ensure that our market always has access to the latest generation of products that can provide the highest quality of dialysis for patients. We are aware that significant work is being done to find new, innovative solutions in this medical field, but I believe that we will still have to wait several more years to see the results of new scientific advances in this area of medicine.
When you began working in the field of transfusion, it was far from the advanced level we see today. Are you optimistic about further progress in this branch of medicine, particularly regarding stem cell therapy and the therapeutic use of other blood components?
— The field of transfusion and treatment with blood components is highly advanced, and the progress made in stem cell therapy has been remarkable. When we started our work, the applications we have today were unimaginable. New technologies now enable us to utilise various types of cells as part of therapies for a range of diseases and conditions, including haematological disorders, autoimmune diseases, cancer, neurological disorders and orthopaedics.
The potential applications of cell therapy are extensive, with scientific research aimed at uncovering new possibilities in medicine advancing quickly in this field. Regenerative medicine is providing innovative solutions through biomedical approaches to clinical therapies. We are also proud to offer bioreactors that enable the automated production of cells and support the development of new therapies.