By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : December 31, 2025 6:38 pm
The Toumai platform, currently the only robotic system with US FDA Study Approval for telesurgery, enabled real-time surgical control with no compromise to patient safety
Call it a benchmark in cross-border remote healthcare delivery in India and beyond.
Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital has created medical history by successfully performing India’s first international remote robotic surgeries, operating on two patients in Mumbai while the lead surgeon was stationed more than 5,000 kilometres away in Shanghai.
The landmark procedures— a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and a robot-assisted partial nephrectomy—were carried out using the Toumai Remote Robotic Surgery System, marking its first cross-border clinical application in India following approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
The surgeries were remotely performed by Dr TB Yuvaraja, Director (Group), Uro-Oncology and Robotic Surgery at Kokilaben Hospital, demonstrating that complex urological procedures can be conducted safely and precisely across continents. The Toumai platform, currently the only robotic system with US FDA Study Approval for telesurgery, enabled real-time surgical control with no compromise to patient safety.
The success hinged on high-speed, secure data connectivity and advanced safety technologies. With an ultra-low bidirectional latency of just 132 milliseconds, the system allowed seamless instrument movement, precise dissection, and uninterrupted execution—replicating the accuracy and reliability of on-site robotic surgery despite the vast distance.
Dr Yuvaraja, who has performed more than 4,100 robotic procedures, said the achievement could redefine access to specialist care. “Remote robotic surgery has the potential to transform access to high-quality surgical care. Successfully performing these procedures across two large nations reinforces our commitment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital to innovation, safety, and excellence in patient care. This achievement also opens up new avenues for offering world class treatment across India and world over.”
Hospital officials said the Toumai system performed with exceptional stability and precision, allowing the surgeon to operate remotely with the same confidence as an in-person procedure. The breakthrough signals a major step forward for telesurgery in India, removing geography as a barrier to world-class medical expertise.
Calling the achievement a proud moment for Indian healthcare, Dr Santosh Shetty, CEO & Executive Director of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, said, “Being the first hospital in India to successfully perform intercontinental remote robotic surgeries following CDSCO approval of the Toumai system is a proud moment for our institution and for Indian healthcare.
"This landmark achievement reinforces Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital’s leadership in adopting cutting-edge medical technologies and shaping the future of surgical care in India. By combining advanced robotics with secure digital infrastructure, the hospital has demonstrated how specialist surgical expertise can be extended across continents without compromising outcomes.
"This achievement reflects our long-standing commitment to innovation, patient safety, and clinical excellence. It opens new possibilities for expanding access to advanced surgical care, particularly for patients in remote and underserved regions.”
The surgeries were made possible through close coordination between multidisciplinary clinical teams, on-ground specialists in Mumbai, and technology and engineering teams in both Mumbai and Shanghai. Their collaboration ensured uninterrupted connectivity, stringent safety protocols, and flawless clinical execution.