Indian Doctors Demonstrate Cross-Border Robotic Telesurgery From 5,000 Km Away

The exercise focused on assessing how accurately a surgeon's hand movements could be transmitted to a robotic system at a distant location, while maintaining real-time visual feedback.

Indian doctors have demonstrated a live cross-border robotic telesurgery between India and China, remotely controlling a robotic surgical system located in Chengdu, nearly 5,000 kilometres away.

The pre-clinical demonstration has tested the ability of surgical movements and real-time visual information to travel across international distances with the precision and speed required for remote procedures.

Led by Dr Vivek Bindal, Principal Director and Head of the Minimal Access, Bariatric, and Robotic Surgery Department, the procedure used the BORNS Robotics System.

Dr Vivek Bindal said: "Healthcare is entering an era where expertise does not necessarily have to be confined by geographical boundaries. The highlight of this live telesurgery is that it combined surgery, robotics, connectivity, and international collaboration to test what is technically achievable. In the future, telesurgery will not be limited to operations alone; it will also serve as a vital medium for remote mentoring and proctoring, allowing experts to support and share their skills with surgical teams worldwide."

The exercise focused on assessing how accurately a surgeon's hand movements could be transmitted to a robotic system at a distant location, while maintaining real-time visual feedback.

The pre-clinical telesurgery involved animal models and included procedures such as gallbladder removal, abdominal surgery, hysterectomy and kidney-related operations.

The demonstration showed that surgeons in India could control a robotic surgical system in China across the approximately 5,000-kilometre distance.

Dr Gaurav Agrawal, Director of Hospital Operations and Chief Operating Officer (NCR Region 3), Max Healthcare, said: "We continuously incorporate the latest technological advancements into medical services with the broader interests of patients in mind. As a leading institution performing a high volume of precision robotic surgeries, our primary focus remains on improving clinical outcomes. Although cross-border robotic telesurgery is still in an experimental phase, successful research and technological breakthroughs of this nature are crucial for the future of healthcare. These efforts lay the foundation for a future where cutting-edge surgical expertise is unbound by geography, ensuring patients in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, regional states, and international locations gain enhanced access to specialized, life-saving care."

The demonstration remains a pre-clinical exercise and does not represent routine clinical adoption of cross-border robotic telesurgery.

Wider use will require appropriate regulatory clearances, clinical protocols, connectivity safeguards, and patient-safety measures.

Earlier research has also demonstrated the feasibility of long-distance robotic surgery, including trials involving surgeons in India and robotic systems developed in collaboration with China.

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