In a landmark development for Indian healthcare, the SSI Mantra surgical robotics platform, developed indigenously by SS Innovations International (SSII), has enabled the first-ever telesurgery in a government medical institution.
Two advanced robotic telesurgeries—a hernia repair and a gall bladder removal—were successfully performed at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Nagpur. Remarkably, the surgeries were conducted remotely by Dr. Raj Gajbhiye, Dean of GMC Nagpur, from the SSI headquarters located nearly 1,000 kilometers away in Gurugram.
Certified by the CDSCO for telesurgeries, the SSI Mantra system is a modular, Made-in-India robotic platform designed for minimally invasive procedures. It allows surgeons to operate remotely in a more ergonomic and comfortable setup, eliminating the need to hunch over traditional surgical consoles.
“This milestone sets a new benchmark for public healthcare in India,” said Dr. Gajbhiye. “By bringing telesurgery into government institutions, we’re not only bridging geographic barriers but also transforming medical education and surgical access.”
Sudhir Srivastava, Founder, CEO, and Chairman of SSII, added,
“This achievement is a turning point—not just for our company but for the future of Indian healthcare. With this successful demonstration in a government hospital, we’ve shown that borderless surgery is not only possible but scalable and affordable. This was the dream that brought me back to India from a successful practice in the U.S.—to democratize access to advanced surgical care.”
The SSI Mantra platform comprises mobile trolleys with robotic surgical arms and can be configured for various procedures. Its telesurgery capabilities are poised to revolutionize rural and underserved healthcare systems by eliminating the need for a surgeon's physical presence in the operating room.
This achievement signals a new era of accessibility, innovation, and self-reliance in Indian surgical care—one where advanced medical technology is not limited by location.