Imagine a doctor in Delhi performing an ultrasound scan on a patient hundreds — even thousands — of kilometres away. That is no longer a futuristic idea.

Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr Jitender Singh on February 16, 2026, demonstrated India’s new Telerobotic Ultrasound System at AIIMS-Delhi, showing how a specialist can remotely control a robotic device to examine a patient in a distant location and receive real-time images for diagnosis.

Explaining the importance of the technology, Dr Singh said access to proper testing and investigation is often a major challenge in remote and border areas.

“If someone falls ill and needs tests to diagnose the disease or to decide whether they need to be shifted elsewhere, arranging those facilities is not always easy,” he said.

“Now, with telerobotic ultrasound, a radiologist sitting here in Delhi can move the robot remotely and see live images to check for gall bladder stones, kidney stones or intestinal problems.”

The system has been developed through a collaborative effort between the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi.

Dr Singh described it as a powerful example of a “whole-of-science, whole-of-government” approach — where researchers, doctors and government bodies work together to solve real-world problems.

The technology could be particularly useful for armed forces and paramilitary personnel stationed in border regions or remote areas where radiologists are not available. Instead of waiting for a specialist or transporting a patient long distances, doctors can now perform scans remotely and make faster decisions about treatment or evacuation.

The Minister also pointed out that India has a research station in Antarctica with about 20 personnel stationed there at any given time. The same technology, he said, could one day support medical care even in such extreme and isolated locations.

In simple terms, the goal is clear: bring expert medical care to places where it is needed most — without the patient having to travel. If implemented widely, this innovation could mark a significant step forward in improving access to quality healthcare across remote and underserved regions of the country.