Apollo Hospitals believes robotics will be the future of surgery. The hospital group, which has invested in this technology at four of its centres, is keen to expand it to other centres soon.
Robotic surgery involves use of robots in various surgical procedures. It is fast gaining ground in the Western world.
India has the potential to become the nerve centre of robotic surgery given the cost benefits the country can provide, says Dr Prathap Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals.
Apollo Hospitals brought in the da Vinci robotic systems (from California-based company Intuitive Surgicals) to its centres last year; since launch it claims to have performed 55 successful robotic keyhole surgeries in bariatric surgery, prostate cancer treatment and gynaecological procedures such as hysterectomy.
The process involves the arms of a robot performing surgical interventions like sutures and tumour removal, guided by a main surgeon who controls the systems.
Advantages
Apart from increasing the accuracy levels, this also reduces the need for several surgeons at the operation theatre, say consultants at Apollo Hospitals who have performed robotic surgeries.
Other advantages are reduced infection, shorter hospital stay, lesser trauma for patients, lesser medication and faster recovery, the hospital says.
Average cost
Robotic surgeries on an average cost Rs 1.5 lakh more than regular procedures. The equipment costs between Rs 10 crore and Rs 15 crore. Currently, the da Vinci robots are available at Apollo Hospitals’ centres in Chennai, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Kolkata.
“We will launch it in two more centres in six months,” said Dr Reddy.
Apollo Hospitals has established the Apollo Institute of Robotic Surgery in collaboration with Vattikutti Foundation, US to offer robotic surgery training in Chennai and Delhi.