AIIMS Delhi Brings Da Vinci Robot to Train Next-Gen Surgeons

The collaboration aims to make healthcare financing more accessible and affordable, targeting a threefold growth in the coming year.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has inaugurated a da Vinci surgical robotic system at its Skills, E-Learning and Telemedicine (SET) facility to expand training in robotic-assisted surgery.

The move, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Intuitive Surgical, marks the first installation of its kind in a government medical college in India dedicated to training.

The advanced robotic platform will allow AIIMS to train residents, surgeons, and operating room teams across multiple specialties, including urology, gynaecology, general surgery, surgical oncology, and head and neck surgery.

The SET facility, already equipped with simulation tools and another robotic system, will now offer structured hands-on training in minimally invasive techniques using the da Vinci system.

AIIMS Director Dr. M. Srinivas said the new addition will strengthen surgical education in the country.

“This facility will ensure our students and residents are trained in state-of-the-art robotic techniques. Earlier, many surgeons had to look abroad for such exposure. Now, with this system at AIIMS, we can provide high-quality training here in India,” he said.

First-of-Its-Kind Training in a Govt Institution

The inauguration makes AIIMS Delhi the first government medical college in India to house a da Vinci system for training purposes. The initiative comes as robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) sees wider adoption in Indian hospitals, particularly in private settings.

By embedding the technology within a public teaching hospital, AIIMS aims to lower barriers for young surgeons to gain exposure without the costs or logistical hurdles of overseas training.

The partnership with Intuitive will also bring in structured learning modules, simulators, and manikin-based practice. Trainees will be able to practice robotic controls and procedures in a stress-free environment before moving to supervised clinical settings.

According to Intuitive India’s Vice President and General Manager Rohitt Mahajan, the collaboration is a milestone in building India’s surgical robotics ecosystem.

“This is an important step in making advanced surgical training accessible. Equipping AIIMS with a da Vinci system reflects our shared commitment to expanding the country’s pool of skilled robotic surgeons,” he said.

The da Vinci platform, widely used globally, offers surgeons three-dimensional visualization, enhanced dexterity through wristed instruments, and precision that supports minimally invasive procedures.

At AIIMS, the system will primarily serve as a teaching and training tool, complementing the institute’s ongoing efforts to integrate simulation and technology into surgical education.

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