Morocco has wrapped up its first year of robotic surgery, with the Oncorad Group calling it a game-changer for the country’s healthcare system.
The group conducted its first robotic operation on 27 May 2024.
Since then, they have logged 178 procedures performed using the system, primarily in urology, including over 100 prostate cancer surgeries.
In November, a surgeon Dr Youness Ahallal performed a remote operation on a patient in Shanghai, setting a world record for the longest-distance telesurgery at 12,000 kilometres. Another remote operation followed between Casablanca and Tangier.
As lead expert behind the operations, he said: ‘Within just a year, Morocco has joined the ranks of global pioneers in robotic surgery. This sort of work was once limited to the world’s tech giants. Not anymore.’
Founded in 2000, Oncorad now runs centres in Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, and Tangier. It’s known for its push into high-tech healthcare, featuring tools such as AI-assisted imaging and precision radiotherapy.
The group says it now aims to expand access to robotic surgery across Morocco and position the country as a regional leader in medical innovation.
Beyond Oncorad, Morocco’s robotic surgery infrastructure remains modest but is expanding. The public hospital in Agadir now has a South Korean Revo-I system. Casablanca’s private AKDITAL network boasts several Da Vinci Xi robots. These allow for minimally invasive procedures across urology, digestive surgery, gynaecology, and ENT.
As robotic surgery remains costly, authorities are discussing reimbursement plans, and broader public rollout is in motion.
The health ministry plans to equip each major university hospital with a robot with a view that remote surgery could prove transformative for rural care.
In May 2025, a patient in Laâyoune was operated on remotely by a surgeon in Casablanca, raising hopes for better access in remote regions.
Training is now a significant focus. Foreign and diaspora experts guided early procedures. Moroccan teams are rapidly building experience, with local surgeons expected to take the lead soon.
The government, private sector and medical bodies aim to make robotic surgery mainstream by 2030. If all goes as planned, Morocco could soon become a regional hub for surgical innovation.
