Djokovic donates ultramodern CT scanner to hospital in Serbia

World No.1 Novak Djokovic continued his philanthropic efforts this year, as he spearheaded the donation of a state-of-the-art CT scanner to a hospital in Serbia.

Using his foundation, the Novak Djokovic Foundation, the Australian Open champion donated the device to help speed up the diagnosing of COVID-19 patients. Valued at 210,000 Euros, the Canon CT device can capture lung-imaging at high resolutions, and was presented by Djokovic himself to the Dragiša Mišović Clinical Hospital Centre.

“We are aware that the epidemiological situation is still unstable and that the health system not only of our country, but also of the entire region is under great pressure, so it is necessary to unite and support them," said Djokovic. "Thank you to all the health workers who have been working in extraordinary circumstances for almost ten months and are fighting for all of us. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been monitoring the situation on the ground and, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, we have tried to react quickly and provide assistance to those who needed it the most. With this pandemic, it has become clear to all of us how important it is to be ready and equipped for all challenges, and we hope that this scanner, as well as all other donated equipment, will make work easier for health workers and further strengthen our health institutions."

The director of the Centre, Professor Dr. Vladimir Djukic, expressed gratitude for the acquisition of the new medical equipment, stating:

"On behalf of the Dragiša Mišović Clinical Hospital Centre, I thank the Novak Djokovic Foundation, Novak’s family and Novak for this wonderful machine that will give future patients, when this evil of the crown passes, a chance to receive quality oncology treatment. Now patients in gynecology and urology get the best possible preoperative diagnosis. At this point, during the corona, we will have the opportunity to lower patients who are intubated, who are on artificial ventilation devices, safely here and they will have a very precise and good diagnosis of the lungs and other organ systems in 15 seconds because this device can do vascular diagnostics and other diagnostics, which is important with COVID-19 because it does not only attack the lungs. Novak’s arrival means a lot more to us than this apparatus, because in this fight, in addition to the courage we have, we also need that energy, that winning mentality.”