Nagpur: Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur, is set to become the first state-run hospital in Maharashtra to offer single-access robotic surgery, with govt approving a Rs35-crore system for the facility.
The move could make advanced robotic surgery accessible to economically weaker patients who currently have limited access to the technology in private hospitals where the procedures can cost ₹5 lakh to ₹8 lakh. With the govt approving the ₹35-crore single-access robotic system, a new chapter in govt healthcare in Maharashtra will begin.
We will make efforts to ensure that the system is made available for patient care at full capacity at the earliest,” officials said. “GMCH is the last hope for lakhs of poor patients from central India. Robotic surgery in private corporate hospitals is beyond the reach of ordinary patients.
Depending on the procedure and the patient’s condition, discharge may be possible within 24 to 48 hours. Once the system becomes operational at GMCH, patients are expected to be able to access the advanced procedures through the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) and other govt concessions, subject to eligibility and applicable provisions. Unlike conventional surgery, which may require a large incision to access organs in the abdomen or chest, single-access robotic surgery allows surgeons to operate through a single small incision. The system uses miniature cameras and flexible robotic instruments that can manoeuvre through difficult angles that may be difficult for human hands to access. The minimally invasive approach can also result in smaller scars and may reduce blood loss and the risk of infection. The technology can be used in a range of complex procedures, including prostate cancer, urinary bladder tumours, gynaecological conditions, and tumours involving the liver, pancreas and abdomen. It can also help surgeons operate on tumours in delicate areas while minimising injury to surrounding nerves and blood vessels.