For the first time in Indian medical history, doctors at Hindusthan Hospital, Coimbatore, have successfully performed the country’s longest-distance telerobotic urology surgery.
The procedure was carried out from Gurugram, New Delhi, to a patient in the Hindusthan Hospital, Coimbatore, covering a distance of 2,362 km.
A press briefing regarding this landmark achievement was held today (3 December 2025) at the hospital. Dr. Ramalingam, Consultant Urologist; Dr. Senthil, Urologist; and Dr. Venkatesh, Chief Anaesthesiologist, briefed the media about the details of the surgery.
The telesurgery was performed by Dr. Ramalingam on 26 November 2025 from the SS Innovations International, Inc. headquarters in Gurugram. He carried out a robotic tailored orthotopic ureteric reimplantation for megaureter in a 28-year-old patient using the Mantra Surgical Robotic System. Dr. Senthil assisted at the patient’s side in Hindusthan Hospital.
How it was performed
Using the robotic system from Gurugram, Dr. Ramalingam remotely controlled the robotic arms, while Dr. Senthil assisted beside the patient in Coimbatore. All members of the surgical team wore 3D glasses to gain an enhanced, depth-perception view of the surgical site.
Advantages of the surgery
- Minimal blood loss
• Greater precision
• Highly flexible hand movement for surgeons
• Faster recovery
• Reduced pain
Dr. Ramalingam also noted that the procedure is offered at an affordable cost—about 25% higher than laparoscopic surgery—and significantly lower compared to costs in the United States.
He added that the Mantra Robotic System has been used in nearly 4,000 cases to date with excellent outcomes. The system also provides greater comfort for surgeons, as it requires far less physical strain compared to laparoscopic and open surgeries, where extensive hand movements often lead to fatigue.
Speaking about the availability of robotic systems, he said that while the United States has around 5,000 surgical robots, India currently has about 300, including 40 in Coimbatore. When asked about telerobotic surgery numbers, he shared that 127 such procedures have been performed over the past two and a half years in the Hindusthan Hospital.
“This accomplishment not only sets a new national record but also showcases the power of advanced surgical robotics and secure long-distance connectivity in transforming patient care without compromising results.
This breakthrough marks a turning point in the role of robotic telesurgery, with significant long-term implications.
As equipment costs decrease and availability increases, training, mentoring, and performing surgeries in remote areas where specialist surgeons are not available will become possible.
“This telesurgery represents an important expansion of the growing robotic surgery network, bringing advanced surgical expertise closer to the people of Coimbatore and neighboring regions. It proves that geography and the scarcity of specialists are no longer barriers to high-quality medical care,” the doctors said.
Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, Managing Director, Founder and Chairman of SS Innovations International, Inc., congratulated Dr. Ramalingam, the Hindusthan Hospital team, and the clinical and SSII teams for this exceptional achievement. He emphasised that this milestone will play an important role in making advanced surgical care more accessible in the years ahead.
Dr. Sathish Prabu, Executive Director of Hindusthan Hospital, congratulated Dr. Ramalingam and his team and acknowledged the hospital’s support in providing the necessary infrastructure.
