Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has performed its first-ever fully robotic surgery, using a Chinese-developed surgical system to complete a complex procedure with enhanced precision, which is a breakthrough that places Islamabad’s largest public hospital among the few government institutions in the country offering advanced robotic care.

Hospital officials said the operation of a female patient was carried out with the Toumai Robotic Surgical System, manufactured by Shanghai MicroPort MedBot (Group) Co., Ltd, according to s Gwadar Pro's report on Friday. The next-generation Chinese platform enabled surgeons to operate through tiny incisions with greater accuracy, stability and control than conventional techniques.

The machine installed at PIMS carries the same branding seen on official Toumai units, including the tagline “Hope of Life.” The hospital’s surgical team, supported by international observers, completed the procedure using the robot’s four-arm system, high-definition 3D imaging and tremor-free instrument control, the features that have positioned Toumai among China’s most advanced surgical technologies.

Dr. Matin Sharif, director of the robotic surgery team, said, “Robotic surgery is the future of medical care. With advanced Chinese systems, complex procedures are becoming safer and more precise, and our goal is to expand this technology to major public hospitals across Pakistan.” Although PIMS has carried out the first fully robotic surgery in a government hospital in the capital, it is not the earliest use of robotic procedures in the country.

In March 2024, Karachi’s Jinnah Hospital successfully performed robotic surgeries for diabetes and obesity, and several private hospitals have also adopted robotic platforms. However, robotic surgery remains uncommon in Pakistan. According to the manufacturer, the Toumai system has seen rapid adoption across China. As of late 2023, it had assisted in more than 1,500 clinical surgeries in nearly 60 hospitals across 21 provinces, covering specialties including urology, general surgery, gynecology and thoracic procedures, MicroPort MedBot said in an official statement.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China