SMS Hospital Launches Rajasthan’s First Robotic Surgery Programme

In a historic first for government healthcare in India, SMS Medical College & Hospital, Jaipur has launched a robotic surgery programme under the Chiranjeevi Yojana — making it the first government hospital in the country to offer free robotic surgery to beneficiaries of a state health insurance scheme.

The Da Vinci surgical system, installed in the hospital’s upgraded OT complex, will initially be used for urology, gynaecology, and colorectal surgeries. The hospital plans to expand to cardiac and thoracic procedures within the next year.

Benefits for Patients

Robotic surgery offers several advantages over conventional open surgery including smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery. These benefits are particularly meaningful for elderly patients and those with multiple co-morbidities.

“This is a transformative moment for public healthcare in Rajasthan,” said the Health Minister at the launch event. “We are committed to ensuring that cutting-edge medical technology is not the exclusive preserve of those who can afford private hospital charges.”

Training and Capacity

A team of six surgeons has been trained on the robotic system at AIIMS Delhi over the past six months. The hospital plans to perform 20 robotic surgeries per week once fully operational, with the wait time expected to be under two weeks for Chiranjeevi beneficiaries.