The Institute of Kidney Diseases (IKD) at Hayatabad Medical Complex has moved closer to launching robotic surgery services, marking a first for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The plan follows a one-day live workshop at IKD during which two robotic procedures were performed by visiting surgeons from the United Kingdom. The workshop introduced local doctors and medical staff to robot-assisted surgery and demonstrated its potential for complex urological procedures.
IKD officials said robotic surgery is already in use in other parts of Pakistan and is rapidly expanding worldwide. The technology allows surgeons to perform operations through small incisions using robotic arms controlled from a console, offering greater precision, reduced blood loss, and shorter hospital stays compared to conventional surgery.
IKD Director Dr Kamran Khan said a formal proposal has been submitted to the institute’s Board of Governors to seek government approval and a special grant for purchasing a surgical robot. He said the equipment costs around $1 million and that international partners and the robot supplier have shown willingness to support training for local surgeons and staff.
According to IKD, the institute already has fully equipped operation theaters and surgeons trained in laparoscopic procedures, making the transition to robotic surgery feasible after specialized training.
Initially, IKD plans to use robotic systems for complex cases such as tumors, with the scope expected to expand to other procedures, including transplants, in the future.