In a significant leap for India’s medical innovation, a team of doctors from the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCIRC) in Delhi has successfully performed a live robotic-assisted telesurgery demonstration that connected Delhi with London. The showcase took place during ERUS25, a major European congress dedicated to robotic urology.
Cutting-edge surgery across borders
The procedure, a robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (a kidney-preserving operation), was led by Dr. Sudhir Rawal, Medical Director and Chief of Genito-Uro Oncology at RGCIRC. The patient remained at the institute’s Rohini campus in Delhi, while Dr. Rawal operated the Mantra Surgical Robotic System remotely from Gurugram.
The Mantra system, developed by SS Innovations, is an indigenously designed robotic platform built to meet international standards of surgical precision. The operation relied on Airtel’s 5G SA network, which maintained a median latency of just 32 milliseconds, ensuring seamless real-time response. The surgery concluded successfully, and the patient was discharged the next day without complications.
Showcasing India’s medical and engineering strength
The live broadcast was viewed by robotic surgery specialists and delegates at ERUS25 in London, highlighting India’s growing competence in high-end medical technology.
Dr. Rawal said the event underscored India’s ability to combine surgical expertise with locally developed technology.
“This demonstration shows how robotic-assisted systems can transform accessibility and accuracy in surgery. It’s a step toward making advanced care available beyond major metro hospitals,” he noted.
Expanding access through remote healthcare
Medical experts believe telesurgery could bridge gaps in access to specialized care across India. Remote-controlled surgical systems could enable senior doctors to operate, mentor, or assist procedures in smaller hospitals lacking advanced facilities — a major stride toward equitable healthcare delivery.
Although still at a pilot stage, such demonstrations affirm that India’s homegrown medical technology is fast approaching global standards, offering new possibilities for cost-effective and widespread surgical care.
Collaboration driving innovation
D. S. Negi, CEO of RGCIRC, said the milestone reflects the institute’s mission to combine research, innovation, and patient care.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, Chairman of SS Innovations, described the achievement as “a proud validation of Indian engineering and clinical excellence coming together.”
A milestone for Indian healthcare technology
The ERUS25 demonstration marks one of the first cross-continental telesurgery showcases using an Indian-made robotic system. It proved both the technical feasibility and clinical safety of performing such procedures under real-world conditions.
As India continues to advance in robotics, 5G connectivity, and medical AI, experts believe this success could pave the way for interconnected surgical networks, where specialists can remotely collaborate and perform precision operations across cities — and eventually, across borders.