Pakistan has reached a major milestone in medical care with its first international telerobotic surgery.
Surgeons from Kuwait successfully performed a gynecological surgery on a patient at Lyari General Hospital in Karachi using remote robotic technology. The operation covered a distance of nearly 1,600 kilometres between the two locations, marking the first time such a procedure has been done in the country.
During the surgery, high-speed internet was used to link the doctors in Kuwait with the robotic system in Karachi. This technology allowed the surgeons to control instruments with only a small delay of 30 microseconds, making the remote operation smooth and precise.
Officials said this shows Pakistan can now use advanced medical technology to connect patients with expert surgeons anywhere in the world.
Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho spoke at a ceremony at the hospital and highlighted other new medical facilities that were opened there. These include a mortuary, a forensic unit, and modern laboratories for microbiology, pathology, and biochemistry. A special training lab was also opened so medical students can practise with new technology.
Doctors said this first international telesurgery shows the technology works well and can be used for many types of operations, such as tumour removal and kidney or gastrointestinal surgery.
The Sindh Government plans to expand the use of tele-robotic surgery to other government hospitals. In the future, Pakistani doctors may also use this technology to treat patients in other countries.
This achievement is seen as a big step forward for healthcare in Pakistan and a sign of growing use of advanced medical technology in the region.
