Pune's Sassoon Hospital to start Robotic Surgeries by end of January

Pune: In a move towards advancing healthcare in Maharashtra, BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital in Pune are set to become the second government facility in the state to adopt a made-in-India robotic surgery system. This innovative move aims to enhance the surgical care and patient care outcomes at the hospital.

Dr Eknath Pawar, the dean of BJ Medical College, shared that the hospital had initially planned to make the system operational in December, but due to unforeseen technical difficulties, the process was delayed. However, with installation nearly complete, the hospital is now looking to launch the system by the end of January.

The robotic system, designed by SS Mantra, features a four-arm machine capable of making four minimal incisions simultaneously. Each of the four arms offers a 360-degree turning radius, providing enhanced dexterity and flexibility for surgeons. This precision allows for more delicate and accurate procedures. Once this system is operational, the doctors could perform surgery pertaining to hernia, gallbladder stones, appendix, and laparoscopic procedures.

Officials at the hospital have stated that a modular operation theatre, along with a robotic system, will soon be established in the general surgery department. The system will be operated by a surgeon using a console, which will then perform the surgery on the patient.

Dr Pawar stated that minimal incisions will lead to faster recovery, which in turn will result in an earlier discharge for patients.

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Speaking to TOI, Dr Pawar said, "The patient turnover will hence be much more, which is crucial in a govt medical college where we are always occupied and there is a shortage of beds. Since robotic surgeries are more expensive than laparoscopy or open surgeries, we will try to get the procedure covered under the state govt's Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana."

Additionally, the manufacturer is expected to offer free consumables for the first 100 patients, which will help reduce the financial burden on patients.

These hospitals currently perform around 10 major and 25 minor surgeries in their general surgery department every day. The introduction of robotic surgery will not only enhance the quality of care but also help the hospital manage its high patient volume more efficiently.

Also Read: Doctors at Amrita Hospital conduct first robot-assisted surgery for rare colon tumour

In addition to other developments, Dr Pawar revealed that the hospital will receive three more mobile CT scans and one more mobile MRI machine. These will help in reducing the waiting time for patients. He stated that one of the mobile CT scan machines would be placed outside the casualty ward, while another would be outside the hospital. BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital are following the lead of Nagpur’s government medical college, which has already adopted robotic surgery technology.