A cross-border remote robotic surgery recently linked Mumbai and Muscat, marking a significant milestone.
Dr TB Yuvaraja performed a robotic radical nephrectomy, a complete kidney removal surgery, on a 55-year-old woman at Medical City Hospital in Muscat while operating remotely from Mumbai.
The procedure used the Medbot Toumai robotic surgery system and is being described as a first-of-its-kind cross-border remote robotic surgery from India.
The surgery was performed using a combination of robotic technology and real-time digital connectivity, allowing the surgeon to control the procedure from another country. The case highlights the growing role of remote surgery in situations where specialist expertise may not be available locally.
According to the hospital, the procedure was conducted in line with relevant regulatory requirements, including guidelines from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), with attention to safety, ethics and clinical governance.
Dr Yuvaraja said the development reflects a broader shift in healthcare delivery, where geographical distance may become less of a barrier to accessing specialist treatment.
He noted that advances in robotics and connectivity are making it increasingly possible for surgeons to treat patients across borders in real time.
Hospital officials said the surgery builds on earlier work in remote robotic procedures and points to the wider potential of telesurgery in cancer care and other complex treatments.
Dr Santosh Shetty, executive director and CEO at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, said: ‘This development builds on the hospital’s technology leadership and earlier success in remote robotic procedures, further strengthening its position at the forefront of medical innovation. Kokilaben Hospital and Dr Yuvaraja continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in modern telesurgery – this time extending India’s strong clinical capabilities to a cancer patient in Muscat.’
