By MTT Bureau
In a move aimed at accelerating the growth of robotic-assisted surgery in India, the Max Institute of Laparoscopic, Robotic, Bariatric Surgery & GI Surgery has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Intuitive Surgical, a global pioneer in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgical technologies.
The collaboration is designed to enhance surgeon proficiency, establish structured education frameworks, and promote the safe and responsible integration of robotic-assisted surgery into both routine and advanced surgical procedures. A key long-term objective of the partnership is to improve patient access to robotic surgical care across the country.
A central pillar of the agreement is a strong focus on education and training. Through standardised learning pathways and systematic skill development, the partnership seeks to move robotic-assisted surgery beyond its current concentration in complex cases and encourage its adoption in everyday surgical practice. This approach aims to balance high clinical standards with scalability across healthcare settings.
The MoU was formally executed by Dr. Pradeep Chowbey, Group Chairman of the Max Institute of Laparoscopic, Robotic, Bariatric Surgery & GI Surgery; David J. Rosa, Chief Executive Officer of Intuitive Surgical; and Rohitt Mahajan, Vice President and General Manager of Intuitive India.
Dr. Chowbey highlighted the importance of embedding robotic-assisted techniques more consistently within commonly performed surgeries, stressing that broader adoption is essential for meaningful patient impact.
With more than 40 years of experience in minimally invasive surgery and extensive expertise in robotic-assisted procedures, Dr. Chowbey emphasised that scale is critical to realising the full potential of surgical innovation.
“The true success of robotic-assisted surgery lies in its potential for scale,” he said. “For any medical technology innovation to truly transform patient care, it must move beyond selective adoption and become part of routine surgical practice. With the right training infrastructure and safety standards, robotic-assisted platforms such as da Vinci can enhance safety and efficiency even in commonly performed procedures.”
Rohitt Mahajan reaffirmed Intuitive Surgical’s commitment to improving patient outcomes through responsible technology adoption.
“Patient outcomes are central to everything we do. We remain committed to advancing minimally invasive care through structured training, responsible adoption, and close clinical collaboration,” he said.
The MoU also formalises collaboration in clinical research. Surgeons from Max Institute will participate in Intuitive-led clinical studies for approved indications, while Intuitive will extend support to Max-led research initiatives by assisting with study design, data analysis, and scientific publications.
Vision for a Robotic Surgery Centre of Excellence
Looking ahead, the partnership includes plans to establish a dedicated Centre of Excellence focused on generating strong clinical and economic evidence for robotic-assisted surgery. The insights produced through this initiative are expected to support hospitals and healthcare systems in informed decision-making.
Over time, the evidence base could also contribute to the evolution of insurance and reimbursement frameworks, helping reduce cost-related barriers and enabling wider patient access to robotic-assisted procedures where clinically appropriate.
Through this strategic alliance, Max Institute and Intuitive Surgical reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing safe, effective, and accessible minimally invasive surgical care across India.