Chandigarh, Jan 4: Toward improving access to advanced cancer care, PGIMER’s department of urology has successfully conducted four robotic-assisted prostate cancer surgeries in one day, officials said.
The surgeries were performed on Friday over a nine-hour period using one robotic surgical system. The patients, all diagnosed with prostate cancer, are stable and under post-operative care, the hospital said.
Dr. Santosh Kumar, professor of urology who led the surgical team, said the achievement depended on precise coordination across multiple departments.
“This level of efficiency is only possible when surgical, anesthesia and nursing teams function as a single unit,” Kumar said. “Every minute in the operating theatre was planned in advance.”
Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy is considered a technically demanding procedure that requires meticulous precision. Hospital officials said reducing turnaround time between surgeries was critical to completing all four procedures safely.
According to PGIMER sources, the approach has already contributed to shorter waiting periods for patients who often face delays due to limited robotic surgery slots.
“Public hospitals must find ways to optimize high-end technology so more patients can benefit,” a senior official said, adding that such efforts could help address surgical backlogs.
A spokesperson from the urology department said the milestone demonstrates PGIMER’s intent to expand patient access to minimally invasive cancer treatment within the public health system.
