Through an exclusive Robotic Simulation Workshop, Manipal Hospitals Kolkata revealed a glimpse of tomorrow’s healthcare, with surgery taking center stage. The event, which brought together some of the most brilliant minds in academia, technology, and medicine, provided an immersive experience in the field of robotic-assisted surgery and demonstrated how human expertise, innovation, and precision are coming together to revolutionize patient care. The workshop’s theme, The Future is Here – with Robotic Surgery at Manipal Hospitals, focused on the next phase of surgical excellence, where sophisticated robotics is empowering surgeons to carry out intricate procedures with improved control, accuracy, and results in a variety of specialties.

The event was graced by Dr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Regional Director, Manipal Hospitals East, Prof. (Dr.) Dilip Kumar Pratihar, PhD (IITK), FNAE, FIE, SMIEEE, MASME, AvH Fellow, Professor and Head, Mechanical Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur, and Prof. (Dr.) Sushmita Mitra, PhD (ISI, Calcutta), FIEEE, FTWAS, FNA, FNAE, FNASc.

Dr. Kunal Sarkar, Director – Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur Cluster, threw light on the role of robotics in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) and General Surgery, while Dr. Sourav Datta, Director – Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Care, Manipal Hospitals – Mukundapur, Salt Lake & Siliguri Clusters, focused on the advancements in robotic-assisted oncology surgery.

The sessions also highlighted the impact of robotics in Orthopaedics by Dr. Vikas Kapoor, Cluster Director – Orthopaedics, Manipal Hospitals Mukundapur Cluster, Urology and Uro-oncology by Dr. Abhaya Kumar, Director – Urology and Uro-Oncology, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass and Senior Consultant – Urology, Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Broadway and Salt Lake and Gynaecology by Dr. Arunava Roy, HOD – Gynaecologic Oncology – Manipal Hospital EM Bypass and Senior Consultant – Gynaecologic Oncology, Broadway and Salt Lake.

The programme also witnessed the introduction of the new team of robotic surgeons at the Manipal Hospitals Salt Lake Cluster, namely Dr. Debkumar Ray, Senior Consultant – Gastrointestinal Surgical, Manipal Hospital Broadway; Dr. Abhinibesh Chatterjee, Senior Consultant – Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Manipal Hospital Salt Lake; Dr. Abhishek Bhaumik, Consultant – Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon, Manipal Hospital Broadway; Dr. Polly Chatterjee, Senior Consultant – Obstetrics & Gynaecology; Dr. Arijit Singha Mahapatra, Consultant – Surgical Gastroenterology, Manipal Hospital Broadway and Dr. Sujoy Chatterjee, Head of the Department – Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Manipal Hospital Broadway, who will head advanced robotic-assisted surgical care across multiple specialties.

A special highlight of the event was the Robotic Simulation Lab, unveiled by the guests. The guests and participants explored the robotic systems available at the lab, including Mako, Velys, ROSA, and Da Vinci Xi. Mako (Stryker), Velys (DePuy Synthes), and ROSA (Zimmer Biomet) are revolutionizing joint replacement procedures in orthopaedics through improved surgical precision, customized planning, and precise implant placement. The Da Vinci Xi robotic system supports advanced minimally invasive surgeries across multiple specialties, enhancing surgeon control and patient outcomes. The demonstration focused on how robotics is advancing medical science by improving the accuracy, efficiency, and patient-centeredness of procedures.

Through live demonstrations, expert interactions, and practical simulation experiences, the workshop gave participants an immersive understanding of robotic surgery while showcasing the accuracy, precision, and potential of next-generation surgical technology. Manipal Hospitals strengthened the future of precision-based surgical care and demonstrated its dedication to bringing cutting-edge medical innovation closer to patients with this initiative.

Priyanka Dutta