United Healthcare has successfully completed the first ever full-fledged robotic surgeries in Bangladesh, performing two operations in a single day at its hospital in Dhaka’s Madani Avenue on Monday.
The procedures, a robotic cholecystectomy on a 57-year-old male patient with gallstones and a robotic hysterectomy on a 45-year-old female patient with excessive uterine bleeding, were conducted using Medbot Toumai Endoscopic Surgical Robot, said doctors at a press conference on Tuesday.
Professor Rafiqus Saleheen, chief consultant of Endo-Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery at United Healthcare, led the first surgery. He said the robot’s arms can rotate up to 360 degrees, allowing for more precise movements in narrow and complex areas of the body compared to human hands.
“The robot’s articulation exceeds human hand movement, making it possible to perform surgery more accurately in tight spaces,” he said. “This results in less cutting, less bleeding, and faster recovery.”
The patient who underwent the first surgery is expected to be discharged within one to two days.
Professor Shamsad Jahan Shelly, chief consultant of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, performed the second surgery.
Saleheen said the cost of robotic surgery is approximately two to three times higher than conventional procedures, but expressed hope that costs would decrease with wider adoption.
“Many patients currently go abroad for advanced treatment. With this service now available in the country, a portion of them can now receive treatment here,” he said.
The robot had been brought to United Healthcare earlier, and several doctors received training abroad on its use. Formal operations began after receiving approval from the Directorate General of Drug Administration. The approval was obtained on Thursday, and the first two surgeries were performed on Monday.
Shelly said neighbouring countries had already introduced robotic surgery, but Bangladesh had lagged behind. “Now this kind of treatment has started in the country,” she said.
She added that plans were in place to expand robotic surgery to cardiology, neurosurgery, urology, general surgery, gynaecology and thoracic surgery. Reducing the number of patients seeking treatment abroad is a long-term goal, she said.
At the press conference, United Medical College Hospital Chairman AQM Mohsen said many patients go abroad for treatment, but the country often has the capacity to provide necessary care.
Mohsen also said most gastroenterology and liver disease treatments, except liver transplants, are now possible in Bangladesh. In collaboration with the National Gastro-Liver Institute, regular liver transplant services are expected to begin within the next few months.
“In the medical sector, we should not remain dependent on others,” he said.
