Sixth Congresses of the Macedonian Society for Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO) – Stimulus for the Development of Nephrology in N. Macedonia

The Macedonian Society for Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO) was established on September 1, 1992 in order to stimulate the development of nephrology and to unite experts from all professions interested in the research and treatment of kidney patients. Momir H. Polenakovic was elected President of MSNDTAO.The First congress of MSNTAO was held in Ohrid from October, 7 to 10, 1993 in hotel “Desaret” under the auspices of the first President of R. Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov. During the Congress, the Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (BANTAO) was formed on October 9, 1993. The idea of cooperation with the Department of Nephrology from the Ege University, Izmir, R. Turkey was promoted. Some of the presented papers were published in the Proceedings “Nephrology ’93” as a supplement to the Macedonian medical review. The “Doctrine for performing nephrological activity in the Republic of Macedonia” was also promoted.The Second congress of MSNDTAO was held in Struga, R. Macedonia from September, 6 to 10, 1997 together with the Second BANTAO Congress. Selected papers were printed in the Macedonian Medical Review.The Third congress of MSNDTAO was held from May, 30 to June 2, 2001 in Skopje, at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA). Proceedings of papers was also published.In 2011 M. H. Polenakovic was elected Honorary President of MSNDTAO for life, and Goce Spasovski was elected the current President of MSNDTAO.The Fourth congress of MSNDTAO was held in Ohrid from June, 21 to 24, 2012 together with the Fourth Meeting of the South-Eastern European Pediatric Nephrology Working Group (SEEPNWG).The Fifth congress of MSNDTAO was held from June, 9 to 12, 2016 in Skopje, at MASA together with the 6th Southeastern European Pediatric Nephrology Working Group (SEPNWG) Meeting and IPNA (International Pediatric Nephrology Association) Teaching Course. The VIII Macedonian-Croatian Nephrology Days were also held during the Congress.The Sixth congress of MSNDTAO was held from September, 26 to 29, 2019 along with the 15th BANTAO Congress, in Skopje, at MASA. The Congress also marked the 80th anniversary of the birth of M. H. Polenakovic.Apart from the participants from R. Macedonia, the congress was attended by renowned nephrologists from Europe and the world.A novelty of the last congresses was the organization of 9 CME (Continuing Medical Education) courses with famous lecturers. CME courses supported by the ERA-EDTA and / or the ISN were as follows: 2005 - Ohrid (BANTAO), 2006 - Skopje (MSNDTAO), 2009 - Skopje (MSNDTAO), 2010 - Skopje (ERA-EDTA - ESAO), 2011 Skopje (ERA-EDTA - EUTox group), 2012 - Ohrid (MSNDTAO), 2014 -Skopje (MSNDTAO), 2016 - Skopje (MSNDTAO), 2018 - Skopje (MSNDTAO - ERA-EDTA & ISN), 2019 - Skopje (BANTAO - ISN & ERA-EDTA).In addition to the congresses, MSNDTAO has held meetings with nephrological associations from the neighboring countries as Croatia, Serbia, Albania and Kosovo.The congresses of MSNDTAO contributed to the introduction and education of doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney patients. They were a strong stimulus for the development of nephrology in R. Macedonia and beyond.

Congress Report from Highly Scientific Nephrology Congresses in the Balkans, 15th BANTAO and 6th MSNDTAO Congress

In the period from 26th until 29th of September 2019, the 15th BANTAO Congress (Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs) in conjunction with the 6th Congress of the Macedonian Society of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO) was held in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, hosted by the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA). MSNDTAO was created in 1992 and the First Congress of the MSNDTAO was held on 9th October 1993 in Ohrid when, also, the Balkan Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (BANTAO) was established, as the only professional association of this kind in the Balkans and Southern Europe. Since then, MSNDTAO has been very active in education and collaboration with BANTAO, the European Renal Association (ERA-EDTA) and the International Society of Nephrology (ISN). The 15th BANTAO and the 6th MSNDTAO Congress were highly professional events in honor of the 80th anniversary of Academician Momir Polenakovic from the Republic of North Macedonia, one of the founders of BANTAO and MSNDTAO, who was unselfishly dedicated to the education and guidance for many generations of young doctors in this region. This year’s Congress was endorsed by the ERA-EDTA, and supported by the ISN. On the first day of the Congress, a European Renal Best Practice (ERBP) session was held, in which the Chair of the ERBP Working Group, Prof. Dr. Jonathan Fox gave a comprehensive insight of the purpose and aims of ERBP, the methods used for their achievement, and an overview of the recently produced and guidelines in development. The second day was organized in four sessions: Clinical nephrology and renal registries; CKD Diagnosis, comorbidities and treatment; Kidney transplantation and Acute and chronic renal failure management. On the third congress day, the ISN CME Course with ERA-EDTA endorsement was held. The course was entitled “Possibility of diagnosis and treatment of the CKD progression and complications/Possibility of diagnosis and treatment of the CKD progression – current perspective” and was chaired by Prof. Dr. Caskey Fergus and Prof. Dr. Serhan Tuglular. On the last Congress day, before the official closure and the best wishes from the President of the Congress, Prof. Dr. Goce Spasovski, a session about CKD and the renal replacement therapy complications was held. This event was of an exceptional importance for the region, considering the charred international achievements and the most up-to-date methods used in the Nephrology field, bringing out continuous quality improvement in the treatment of patients with renal diseases.

Ideas and Spirit of the Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (BANTAO) Connect Nephrologists from the Balkan Cities – From the Foundation to the 15th BANTAO Congress

The Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (BANTAO) was established in Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia on October 9, 1993 during the First Congress of the Macedonian Society of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO). The idea of the founders was that such Society would have a clear impact on several aspects of practice and research in nephrology and artificial organs in the Balkans, firstly, by increasing its international visibility and potential collaborative work, and recognition by international organizations. Secondly, such a society would facilitate the exchange of experience and knowledge between experts in our area. In addition, it would be a very positive symbolic act showing that collaborative work for the betterment of life is possible and desirable in our area and that coming together will bear better fruits at the human and cultural levels. It will also send a very clear signal to the outside world that the Balkans can be a place of collaboration and mutual understanding. Several international bodies such as the International Society of Artificial Organs and the International Faculty of Artificial Organs have signaled their interest in and support for the creation of such a society. Despite the turbulent times in the Balkan Peninsula, the First BANTAO Congress was held in Varna from September 22 to 24, 1995, which was an impressive event. F. Valderrabano, Chairman of the EDTA–ERA registry reported on that event with a lot of sympathy in the paper entitled “Nephrologists of the Balkan countries meet across political frontiers and war fronts – an example to politicians. The foundation of and the Second Congress of BANTAO were also well accepted by the colleagues nephrologists from Russia. The Second Congress was held on September 6-10, 1997 in Struga, the Third BANTAO Congress was held on September 18-20, 1998 in Belgrade, the Fourth Congress of BANTAO was held in Izmir on November 14-16, 1999, the Fifth Congress of BANTAO was held in Thessaloniki on September 30 – October 3, 2001, the 6th BANTAO Congress was held in Varna, on October 6-9, 2003, the 7th BANTAO Congress was held in Ohrid, on September 8-11, 2005, the 8th BANTAO Congress was held in Belgrade, on September 16-19, 2007, the 9th BANTAO Congress was held in Antalya, November 18-22, 2009, the 10th BANTAO Congress was held in Chalkidiki, October 13-15, 2011, the 11th BANTAO Congress was held from 26 to 29 September 2013 in Timisoara on the 20th Anniversary of the foundation of BANTAO, the 12th BANTAO Congress was held on October 15-18, 2015 in Opatija, the 13th BANTAO Congress was held on 4-8 October, 2017 in Sarajevo, the 14th BANTAO Congress was held on September 20-23, 2018, in Budva and the 15th BANTAO Congress was held in Skopje, 26-29 September 2019. Another milestone in the life of BANTAO was the appearance of the BANTAO journal in 2003, which has been published biannually since then. In the past 17 years there have been 33 editions of the journal and seven supplements reporting BANTAO congresses. The editors of the journal past and present are: 2003–2005 (Dimitar Nenov); 2005–2009 (Ali Basci); 2009–(Goce Spasovski). Up to date, more than 400 papers have been published. The BANTAO journal is registered on EBSCO, DOAJ, SCOPUS, and has become a strong ‘glue’ among nephrologists from the Balkan cities. The BANTAO congresses and the BANTAO journal have succeeded in elevating nephrology knowledge and thus increased the standards of nephrology patient care throughout the Balkans. Standing above the divisive forces of politics, language and war, BANTAO gives a living example that collaboration and humility are feasible in times of maddening destruction, and are transformative.

International Nephrology Days/ Меѓународни Нефролошки Денови

The International Nephrology Days in honor of the 75th anniversary of Academician Momir Polenakovic and 50 years of his scientific work were held in the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) on 26 and 27 September 2014. Organizers of the meeting were the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Macedonian Society of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO). The days were programmed with the VII Macedonian-Croatian Nephrology Meeting and the Continuing Medical Education (CME) Course on "Renal Replacement Therapy - when & how - update on the outcome and cost-efficacy" organized by the MSNDTAO in cooperation with the European Renal Association (ERA-EDTA). Prominent academicians, researchers and nephrologists from Europe and neighboring countries contributed with their lectures and discussion at this scientific event. On September 26, 2014 the opening talk was given by Acad. V. Kambovski, President of the MASA, about the Life and Work of Academician Momir Polenakovic. In honor of his anniversary and valuable scientific opus, during the meeting Acad. Momir Polenakovic was awarded with Certificate of the European Renal Association (ERA-EDTA) for his significant role in the development of nephrology in the Balkan region and couple of other diplomas and acknowledgement. Prof. Polenakovic is founder of the MSNDTAO and his lifetime honorary president.

Protocol for Performing Nephrological Activity in the Republic of Macedonia

The fast development of nephrology in the world, especially in the second half of the 20th century demanded protocol (guidelines) for nephrological activity for all levels of medical care, of doctors and specialists. The International Society of Nephrology, the European Renal Association and other national associations created their own protocol (guidelines) for nephrological activity. The Macedonian Society of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (MSNDTAO) proclaimed the First Protocol for Performing Nephrological Activity in the Republic of Macedonia at the First Congress of the MSNDTAO, held in Ohrid 1993, and it was published in the Macedonian Medical Review, 1994; Supplement 14: 397–406 [1]. The update of the Protocol for Performing Nephrological Activity in the Republic of Macedonia was proclaimed at the Fourth Congress of MSNDTAO, held in Ohrid 2012 and it presented in this text.