Lucknow: With the launch of the da Vinci robotic system, KGMU is now offering robotic surgeries at nearly 50% lower cost than most private hospitals, improving access to advanced surgical care for patients. The university already has 2 SSI Mantra robotic systems—one installed under CSR in the surgery department and another at Shatabdi Hospital under a public-private partnership—making KGMU one of the few govt institutions in the region with multiple robotic platforms. The first surgery using the da Vinci system was performed on a 40-year-old woman suffering from gallstones. Prof Abhijit Chandra, head, surgical gastroenterology department, carried out a robot-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The procedure cost Rs 70,000 at KGMU, while similar robotic surgeries in private hospitals typically cost around Rs 1.5 lakh or more. Prof Chandra said the da Vinci system enables greater precision in procedures such as gallbladder removal, colorectal surgeries, gastrointestinal cancer operations, and other minimally invasive abdominal surgeries. Meanwhile, surgeries performed with the SSI Mantra system in the surgery department, installed under CSR, require patients to pay only for disposables, costing around Rs 15,000 in addition to conventional surgical expenses. The SSI Mantra system at Shatabdi Hospital, operating in PPP mode, costs slightly less than procedures performed with the da Vinci system. “The KGMU administration is committed to making advanced surgical technology accessible and affordable so that more patients can benefit, while also strengthening training and research for young surgeons,” said Prof Abinav Sonkar, head, surgery department, KGMU.
