Until recently, robotic surgery in India was often seen as an advanced option available only in select private hospitals. That perception is now steadily changing. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has crossed a significant milestone by completing more than 1,000 robotic-assisted surgeries at its Department of Surgical Disciplines in just over a year, bringing cutting-edge surgical care into the heart of the public healthcare system.

The robotic surgery programme at AIIMS was introduced to manage highly complex surgical cases with greater precision and minimal invasiveness. Over the past 13 months, surgeons have used robotic platforms for a wide range of procedures, including gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgeries, cancer resections, kidney transplants, abdominal wall reconstructions and delicate endocrine surgeries involving the thyroid, adrenal glands and pancreas. These procedures require meticulous dissection and accuracy—areas where robotic technology offers a clear advantage over conventional methods.

What makes this achievement particularly meaningful is the setting in which it has been accomplished. Robotic surgery has been present in India since the early 2000s but remained largely limited to private hospitals due to high equipment costs.

Its successful integration into a government institution like AIIMS New Delhi marks an important step towards ensuring that advanced surgical technology is accessible to patients from all socio-economic backgrounds.

Highlighting the academic importance of this transition, Prof Sunil Chumber, Head of the Department of Surgical Disciplines at AIIMS New Delhi, said the initiative strengthens both patient care and medical training. “AIIMS is primarily an academic institution, and at any given time more than 100 surgical residents are being trained in our department.

The introduction of robotic surgery gives our residents hands-on exposure to the latest technology during their training years, bringing our surgical education on par with leading medical institutes across the world,” he said.

From a clinical perspective, robotic surgery is already showing tangible benefits for patients. According to Dr Piyush Ranjan, Professor at AIIMS New Delhi, robotic platforms provide surgeons with superior vision and enhanced precision, particularly in complex procedures.

“The magnified three-dimensional view and the fine control offered by robotic systems allow us to perform difficult surgeries more accurately. This results in less postoperative pain, reduced blood loss and faster recovery for patients,” he explained.

Looking ahead, Dr Ranjan believes robotic surgery will increasingly shape surgical practice in India. “Over the next five years, the majority of complex surgeries are likely to be performed using robotic technology. That said, conventional surgeries will continue to play an important role, especially in emergency situations and in cases where robotics may not be required,” he noted.

Beyond improving surgical outcomes, the robotic programme has reinforced AIIMS’s role as a national leader in healthcare innovation. With robotic surgery adoption in India growing at an estimated rate of 15 to 20 per cent annually, AIIMS plans to contribute through training, research and evaluation of cost-effectiveness in the Indian public healthcare context.

As AIIMS New Delhi marks the milestone of 1,000 robotic surgeries, it is also shaping a roadmap for the future of surgery in government hospitals.

By combining advanced technology with affordable public healthcare, the institute is demonstrating that innovation need not be exclusive. While conventional surgery will always remain essential, the growing role of robotics at AIIMS signals a future where precision-driven, minimally invasive surgery becomes the norm rather than the exception.