MUDr. Zdeňka Vorlová has passed away

ČSH

On the first day of October, the most prominent and significant figure of the Czech haemophilia community in the twentieth century left this world. The founder of specialised treatment in our country, a long-time physician and head of department at the Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (UHKT) in Prague. She was 91 years old. Zdeňka Vorlová stood at the birth of modern care for haemophilia patients not only in our country; the system in Slovakia was also established following her model. She became a recognised expert on an international scale as well, well known in the professional circles of the EHC and WFH for her clear, sharp, direct, and always highly knowledgeable opinions. As head of the UHKT department in Prague, she contributed to its significant building modernisation, and under her leadership young doctors worked there who later became leading figures in the field of coagulation in our country.

She uncompromisingly advocated opinions she was convinced were correct, and as a result often encountered misunderstanding and disagreement. As early as the 1990s, she pointed out problems with the then-planned Czech production of coagulation concentrates; the case later grew into a massive billion-crown affair -- still unresolved to this day -- known as the Diag Human case. She always fiercely defended the interests of UHKT against certain plans by the Ministry of Health and other institutions that could harm the interests of haemophilia patients. In addition to the warm regard of her patients, she thus also cultivated the displeasure of certain powerful figures.

She provided advice and assistance in the founding of the Czech Hemophilia Society, which honoured her in 2010 with its annual award, making her its first laureate.

She influenced several generations. Her greatest merit is the introduction of home treatment in our country, an absolutely groundbreaking moment in the lives of haemophilia patients and their families. She promoted modern effective methods of therapy in every possible way. Her patients and their families will always remember her with gratitude. She significantly eased their difficult lives, of which today's generations fortunately no longer have any notion.

The final farewell to MUDr. Zdeňka Vorlová will take place on Friday, 9 October at 10:40 in the small ceremonial hall of the crematorium in Prague - Strašnice.

Honour her memory.