NEW DELHI: In a landmark that doctors said called for celebration, AIIMS Delhi has completed 1,000 robotic surgeries since the programme began in the hospital. The milestone follows installation of the “da Vinci robotic surgical system”, with the first such procedure led by Dr Hemanga K Bhattacharjee in Nov 2024 after years of preparation by the surgical team.Surgeons at the top hospital are now performing robot-assisted surgeries free of additional cost. This, doctors said, makes AIIMS one of the fastest-growing robotic surgery centres in the public sector and the programme now covers a wide range of complex procedures including cancer operations, pelvic surgeries and organ transplants. For patients, the shift represents a technological leap in how surgery is performed.“Studies have consistently shown that the technological aspects of robotic surgery result in less pain and better precision,” Dr Bhattacharjee told TOI. “The robot allows the surgeon to achieve outcomes that are often more precise than conventional techniques.”Robotic surgery belongs to a broader category of minimally invasive procedures that emerged over the past three decades. Traditional open surgery involves large incisions to access organs, often leading to longer recovery times and greater pain. Laparoscopic surgery—which uses small incisions and instruments guided by cameras—revolutionised the field in the 1990s. Robotic surgery takes this approach a step further.The surgeon operates from a console that provides a highly magnified, three-dimensional view of the patient’s anatomy. Instruments attached to robotic arms mimic the surgeon’s hand movements but with greater flexibility and steadiness, eliminating tremors and allowing access to difficult areas deep inside the body.For certain types of procedures, particularly pelvic surgeries, the advantages can be significant. The enhanced precision helps surgeons preserve delicate nerves and reduce bleeding during the operation, which in turn improves recovery and long-term outcomes.Despite these advantages, India’s adoption of robotic surgery came relatively late. The technology has existed for more than two decades, but its expansion was slowed by one major barrier: cost.Robotic surgical systems can cost several crores of rupees, with additional expenses for maintenance and specialised instruments. As a result, most early adopters in India were large private hospital chains, where patients often paid several lakh rupees for robotic procedures.But all that is about to change. Govt hospitals are increasingly entering the field, bringing the technology within reach of a wider segment of patients. “There is no extra cost involved for patients here,” Bhattacharjee said. “But we do select cases carefully. Certain procedures benefit more from robotic assistance, and since we currently have only one robot in the department, we choose patients based on where the technology will make the most difference.”Demand, however, is growing rapidly. Patients are increasingly aware of the technology and often ask specifically for robotic surgery. “Adoption does not look difficult,” said Bhattacharjee, adding, “Earlier patients used to ask for laparoscopic surgery. Now many are asking whether robotic surgery is possible.”The expansion of robotic surgery also raises questions about training the next generation of surgeons. Operating a robotic console requires new technical skills beyond those used in traditional surgery.At AIIMS, resident doctors are now undergoing extensive training on the system as part of their surgical education. The hospital has also invested in specialised training facilities to ensure doctors become proficient with the technology before performing live operations.Looking ahead, experts believe robotic surgery could become far more common in India, especially if more public hospitals adopt the technology. “But price is one of the biggest constraints,” Bhattacharjee said. “Not many public hospitals are able to adopt the technology because of the cost. If the govt finds ways to make it more viable, many more patients could benefit.”Beyond robotics, the next frontier may involve artificial intelligence assisting surgeons during operations. “Artificial intelligence is progressing day by day,” Bhattacharjee said. “Research on animals has already shown that some automated robotic procedures are possible. But it will take time before such systems become part of routine surgery.”
