On June 19, Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov took part in a ceremony of awarding the winners of the VII Regional contest “Doctor of the year – Ak chechekler” at KRK “Piramida” in Kazan.

Opening the solemn event, dated to the Medical Worker Day, Minister of Health Adel Vafin read out Russian Minister of Health Veronika Skvortsova’s congratulations to participants and guests of the Contest “Doctor of the year - Ak chechekler”.

“The awards presented today are a high recognition of professional achievements by colleagues and patients, people whom you save their lives and keep healthy every day. Medicine is different from all other spheres of human activity: it is not just a job, it is high responsible service of man," the message reads.

Adel Vafin also congratulated medical workers of the republic and noted that professionals, who are ready to come to help and save lives, are working in the health sphere in Tatarstan.

The contest, organised by Tatarstan Ministry of Health aims to create additional incentives to develop professional skills and increase the public prestige of the medical profession.

This year, winners were announced in six nomination: “Doctor of the year”, “Medical worker of the year”, “The best physician of primary health care”, “The legend of health care”, “A unique case” and a new nomination “Medicine of the sport of records”. In 2014m, about 60 presentations were submitted for the contest.

Each nomination, except for “The legend of the year”, had three nominees. The winners were chosen by Public Council under Tatarstan Ministry of Health by open voting. Internet voting organized at the web-site of the ministry played an important role while deciding the winners.

Head of Starokashirskoye rural health post Albina Amirova won the “Medical worker of the year” nomination. Head of branch of Nurlat district hospital Ilsoyar Tagirova was chosen “The best physician of primary health care”.

Doctors of Tatarstan Children Clinical hospital, who saved a child with rare birth defects of trachea, bronchi and heart, won “A Unique Case” nomination.

Victoria Zvereva, sport physician of Regional Medical Prophylactics Center won the Medicine of the sport of records” nomination. Firkat Galimov became “The legend of health care” this year.

A neurosurgeon Valery Danilov won the main nomination “Doctor of the Year – 2014”.

Speaking at the event, Ildar Khalikov thanked medical workers for their work on behalf of citizens of the republic. He noted that the medical profession is not easy and very responsible. Tatarstan Prime Minister specially thanked medical workers who worked at Summer Universiade 2013 in Kazan.

The winners and nominees were presented with statuettes, diplomas, tablet computers, grants for training abroad and health resort vouchers. Moreover, Ildar Khalikov presented car keys to two rural physicians.