Dr Saravana Rajamanickam
Thoracic Surgical Oncology

Robotic technology helps a great extent in providing the surgeon superior vision and maneuverability in navigating the difficult areas within the body. Initially used only for ‘difficult-to-reach’ areas within the human body, robotics has now permeated most surgeries across various specialities.

Widespread acceptance and the realization that superior technology will eventually benefit the patient, has spurred the ‘Robotic Surgery race’ among the surgical community and hospitals.

Initially dominated by a single player, Intuitive Surgical, with their Da Vinci system, the recent years have seen many competitors in this market. In fact widespread interest in healthcare robotics is changing how we will be doing in the future.
A “Made-in-India” robot, the SSI Mantra, has also entered the market. And patients must rejoice, as competition, in time, will make robotic surgery cheaper.

Thangam Robotic Institute in 2020, was one of the first hospitals in India, outside of the metros, to install a Da Vinci robotic system. In two years, we have crossed 600+ surgical procedures across various specialities. The key has been to keep surgery affordable. We have taken various administrative steps to ensure that costs of the procedure is as competitive as laparoscopic surgery. Our surgery packages are sometimes 30-50% less than hospitals in the metros. And surgery is done with the same, if not better quality than other centres. More patients are now demanding robotic surgery, compared to two or three years ago, which is promising.

A ‘robotic-wave’ is coming, and I predict every deserving patient in the future would receive robotic surgery. However, a lot has to be done.