Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 11 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the state’s first robotic-assisted surgery at Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (IGMC), Chamiyana, and announced that the state government plans to invest Rs 3,000 crore by 2030 toward upgrading medical technology in hospitals statewide.
Sukhu also assured that all vacant posts at IGMC would be filled promptly. “We are going to provide AIIMS-level medical technology in super-specialist hospitals. By 2030, 3,000 crore rupees will be spent on medical technology. If we provide good technology, patients living in villages can receive better treatment. We have decided that the vacant posts at IGMC will be filled,” he said.
IGMC has become the first government health institution in the state to perform high-end procedures of robotic surgery, an official release said. A resident of Khalini in district Shimla, suffering from a prostate-related ailment, became the first patient to undergo robotic surgery in the state. A team comprising Dr. Anant Kumar, Dr. Pamposh Raina, and Dr. Pawan Kaundal successfully performed the first robotic surgery.
According to the doctors, the procedure took almost three hours, whereas in routine surgery it could have taken at least five hours. There was no blood loss from the patient during the operation, while the conventional procedure would have required four units of blood.
They added that the patient is expected to be discharged from the hospital within three to four days, compared to the eight to ten days required in traditional operations. The Chief Minister extended his felicitations to the team for successfully conducting the robotic surgery.
The patient’s attendant said the operation was successful and that robotic surgery is world-class technology for medical procedures. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the state government for introducing this latest technology in a government medical institution. He added that with this facility, there will be no need to travel outside the state for such high-end treatment.
Dr. Kailash Bharwal, consultant in the Urology Department, stated that this marks the beginning of a new era in the state’s medical history, as Chamiyana Hospital has become the first institution to conduct robotic surgery. He said robotic surgery enables doctors to operate with precision and accuracy, with minimal blood loss during the procedure.
Dr. Bharwal noted that patients recover faster after robotic surgery, allowing them to resume routine activities sooner. Robotic surgery uses highly advanced robotic arms that filter out natural hand tremors, enabling surgeons to make extremely fine and steady movements. It also improves accuracy when working near delicate structures such as nerves and blood vessels.
Most robotic surgeries use smaller incisions compared to traditional surgeries, which generally means less scarring and better outcomes. (ANI)
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