ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGERY: TRANSFORMATIONAL GROWTH AHEAD

The champions of robot-assisted surgery RAS), the top surgeons from all over India, discuss why and how RAS will witness a revolutionary growth very soon

- NAGESH JOSHI

The healthcare sector has seen many developments and innovations in the digital healthcare space worldwide. The innovations span across the spectrum including new drug discovery, drug delivery methods, packaging and distribution, diagnostics, and treatment methods. One of the disruptive tech-led innovations of the 21st century has been the assistive robotic technology for surgeries. Due to its rising popularity, the minimally invasive surgeries are today almost becoming synonymous with robot-assisted surgeries in India's top metropolitan centers.

The robot-assisted surgery (RAS) helps the operating doctors to perform surgical procedures with precision, flexibility, and control. With chronic and infectious diseases on the rise, higher disposable incomes, and growing patient demand for minimally invasive surgeries, robotassisted surgeries are on the rise.

The market size
According to a market research report released by Global Market Insights, the surgical robots market crossed $5.2 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow by 17.6 percent annually from 2022 to 2030. The market will touch $22.8 billion in value terms by the year 2030.

The trend is not too different in India too. Following the first Da Vinci surgical robot installation at New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the year 2006, India has seen a steady rise in adoption of robot-assisted surgery (RAS).

As per available data, India today has 70-plus installations of surgical robots at different hospitals that regularly carry out hundreds of robot-assisted surgeries (RAS). As per some market estimates, there are more than 500 surgeons in India who are trained on and are using assistive robotic technology for surgeries at private as well as some government hospitals.