RGCIRC completes telesurgery clinical trials with SSI Mantra Robot

RGCIRC’s successful telesurgery trials show the potential for remote surgeries to transform healthcare access and affordability across India

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New Delhi: The Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCIRC) has completed a clinical trial on telesurgery using the SSI Mantra Surgical Robotic System.
This landmark trial, which included six procedures such as the initial surgery on a patient with urinary bladder carcinoma, nephrectomy, hysterectomy, and cystectomy, has demonstrated that telesurgery is both safe and effective.
The clinical trial was conducted by a team of expert surgeons led by Dr. Sudhir Rawal, Medical Director and Chief of Genito-Uro Oncology at RGCIRC, alongside Dr. Vandana Jain, Dr. Amitabh Singh, and Dr. Ashish Khanna. The surgeries were executed without any technical issues or complications, affirming that telesurgery can meet the high standards traditionally associated with in-person operations.
RGCIRC’s collaboration with SS Innovations, a partnership dedicated to advancing healthcare across India, has been instrumental in this success. The trial exemplifies the ‘Make in India’ initiative, showcasing the practical application of domestically developed surgical technology. This achievement not only aligns with the mission of ‘decentralizing excellence’ but also positions India at the forefront of global surgical innovation.
Dr. Sudhir Rawal highlighted, “RGCIRC has partnered with SSI in leveraging the advancements in medical technology to empower surgeons and transform surgical procedures ensuring an experience on par with traditional operating room procedures. The success of the trials will help in establishing medical procedures while democratizing access to advanced healthcare services.”
A major advantage of telesurgery is that it allows super-specialists to perform surgeries remotely, reducing the need for their physical presence at the location. This innovation helps cut down travel costs for medical professionals and lowers hospitalization expenses for patients, particularly benefiting those in tier 2 and tier 3 cities by improving access to specialized care.
The successful completion of these trials builds on RGCIRC’s pioneering efforts in telesurgery, which began with India’s first telesurgery in cancer care. This technology is poised to revolutionize healthcare delivery, making advanced surgical procedures more accessible and affordable, and setting new benchmarks in the medical field.