On World Cancer Day, as the global healthcare community reflects on the theme “United by Unique”, a special virtual session hosted by Voice of Healthcare spotlighted how technology is reshaping cancer care delivery in India. Titled “Operating Across Distance: How Tele-Surgery Is Bringing Cancer Care to the Last Mile,” the discussion explored how tele-surgery and indigenous robotics are breaking geographical barriers and expanding access to advanced oncology services.
The session featured Dr. (Prof.) Sudhir Kumar Rawal, Medical Director and Chief of Genito-Uro Oncology Services at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre (RGCIRC), Delhi, in conversation with Dr. Manisha Khurana, Editor-in-Chief, Voice of Healthcare and Founder, NextEdge Precision Medicine Insights.
Opening the discussion, Dr. Khurana highlighted how cancer outcomes in India are often shaped not just by disease biology but by geography, access, affordability, and timely expertise. Tele-surgery, once considered futuristic, is now emerging as a practical solution to bridge these gaps, especially for patients in remote and underserved regions.
Dr. Rawal explained that the core objective of tele-surgery is not only treatment but also democratising surgical expertise and medical education. “An expert surgeon may not always be able to travel to smaller towns due to clinical commitments, but technology allows that expertise to reach patients without delay,” he noted.
Sharing real-world experience, Dr. Rawal said his team has conducted over 100 tele-surgeries, demonstrating that outcomes are as safe and effective as conventional on-site robotic procedures. Enabled by advanced robotic platforms, surgeons can operate from distant locations while maintaining precision and control.
A critical enabler of this model is high-speed, dedicated connectivity. During a procedure where Dr. Rawal operated from Gurugram while the patient was in Delhi, the network latency was approximately 40 milliseconds, well below the threshold perceptible to the human eye. “At that delay, it feels no different from operating in the same operating theatre,” he explained, adding that even transcontinental procedures with delays under 200 milliseconds remain clinically safe.
A key highlight of the discussion was the role of SSI Mantra, an indigenous surgical robot developed to address India’s cost and infrastructure challenges. Dr. Rawal, who played a pivotal role in its clinical evolution, contrasted it with imported robotic systems that come with high acquisition, maintenance, and consumable costs.
“Global systems are financially viable in Western healthcare markets, but India is highly price-sensitive,” he said. SSI Mantra, costing roughly one-third of imported alternatives, has enabled robotic surgery to reach tier-2 and tier-3 cities, including hospitals with 100–200 beds.
Today, the platform supports a wide range of procedures—from urology and oncology to gynaecology, hernia repair, and bariatric surgery—making advanced minimally invasive care more accessible across the country.
While private insurance has begun covering robotic procedures, Dr. Rawal acknowledged that wider adoption under public health schemes such as Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) could significantly accelerate access. Government participation, he noted, could allow district hospitals and medical colleges to adopt tele-surgery models, enabling experienced professors to operate remotely while mentoring local surgeons.
“Once the government steps in, the impact will be exponential—both for patients and for India’s healthcare innovation ecosystem,” he said.
Addressing clinical considerations, Dr. Rawal emphasized that tele-surgery is not limited by tumour stage when performed by experienced surgeons. However, for teams starting out, selecting straightforward cases initially is advisable before progressing to more complex procedures.
Importantly, robotic platforms allow immediate conversion to open surgery if needed, ensuring patient safety. “So far, we haven’t had to convert a single tele-surgery case,” he added.
On the role of artificial intelligence in operating theatres, Dr. Rawal was clear: AI will remain a supportive tool, not a replacement for surgeons. While automation can enhance precision, human oversight and decision-making remain indispensable when dealing with the complexities of the human body.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Rawal expressed concern over the limited support from large domestic corporates for Indian medtech startups, despite global traction. SSI Mantra robots are already being used across South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean, with over 160 systems deployed worldwide.
“This is the moment for policymakers, hospital leaders, engineers, and investors to recognise what Indian innovation can achieve on the global stage,” he said, urging stronger institutional and governmental backing for homegrown technologies.
As India emerges as a global leader in tele-surgery alongside China, the session underscored a powerful message: technology can ensure that advanced cancer care is not defined by pin codes. With growing clinical evidence, improving connectivity, and indigenous innovation, tele-surgery is steadily moving from being seen as a miracle to becoming a future standard of care.
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