Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai has achieved India’s first international cross-border remote robotic surgeries, with Dr. T.B. Yuvaraja operating from Shanghai on two patients using the Toumai® Remote Robotic Surgery System. The procedures a radical prostatectomy and partial nephrectomy demonstrate ultra-low latency (132 ms) and precision comparable to on-site surgery, marking a new era in global access to specialist care.
Glimpse:
Performed in late December 2025, these landmark urological surgeries highlight the Toumai system’s stability, CDSCO approval in India, and FDA study clearance for telesurgery. With seamless real-time control despite vast distance, the milestone addresses expertise shortages, enables cross-continental collaboration, and paves the way for underserved regions to access world-class interventions without patient travel.
In a groundbreaking advancement for global healthcare, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH) in Mumbai has successfully conducted India’s first-ever international remote robotic surgeries. Dr. T.B. Yuvaraja, Director of Uro-Oncology and Robotic Surgery at KDAH, performed two complex urological procedures a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and a robot-assisted partial nephrectomy from Shanghai, over 5,000 kilometres away.
The surgeries utilized the advanced Toumai® Remote Robotic Surgery System, developed by Shanghai MicroPort MedBot. This platform achieved an impressive bidirectional latency of just 132 milliseconds, ensuring smooth, precise instrument control and high-definition visualization delivering outcomes equivalent to in-person robotic surgery.
This feat represents India’s inaugural intercontinental telesurgery, enabled by high-speed stable connectivity, multiple safety protocols, and close coordination between multidisciplinary teams in Mumbai and Shanghai. Local specialists supported on-site, while engineering experts ensured uninterrupted transmission.
Dr. Yuvaraja, with over 4,100 robotic procedures to his credit, emphasized the transformative potential “Remote robotic surgery can revolutionize access to high-quality care. Performing these across nations opens avenues for world-class treatment globally.”
Hospital Chairperson Tina Ambani and President Dr. Santosh Shetty hailed the collaboration as a bridge for extending elite expertise beyond borders, particularly benefiting remote and underserved patients.
The Toumai system, the only one with US FDA study approval for telesurgery and CDSCO clearance in India, underscores growing Sino-Indian medical tech ties amid rising telesurgery adoption worldwide.
This milestone not only validates long-distance robotic intervention’s safety and efficacy but also signals a future where geography no longer limits surgical excellence.
“Remote robotic surgery has the potential to transform access to high-quality surgical care. Successfully performing these procedures across two large nations opens up new avenues for offering world-class treatment across India and the world over.”
By
HB Team
