BLK-Max Hospital and Intuitive Launch Robot-Assisted Surgery Program

BLK-Max Super Specialty Hospital, one of the leading healthcare services providers, along with its knowledge partner, Intuitive, (Nasdaq: ISRG), a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery, today announced the launch of a comprehensive dual console robot-assisted surgery fellowship training programme in oncology for surgeons across India. 

With BLK-Max Hospital being the first private hospital in the country to have a da Vinci dual surgeon console, the fellowship is being launched to cater to the need for more trained RAS surgeons and it aims to prepare the next generation of surgeons to be equipped in the field of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS). 

The da Vinci dual console allows a surgical mentor to teach with both the mentor and the trainee working at a surgeon console simultaneously. The system brings across some innovative features including voice and laser guidance systems, a lightweight endoscope, and the same control console and 3D optics system that lets surgeons see into the patients as they operate the device, it also employs tiny instruments that mimic the movements of a human hand but with a wider range of motion. These benefits go a long way in enabling the surgeon and care teams to provide life-enhancing care for their patients. 

The fellowship extends over three months and is designed to acquaint surgeons with robot-assisted surgery from OPD consultations to live operations focusing on its technology, clinical applications, and benefits with hands-on training. The fellowship programme will be led by one of the leading robotic surgeons in the country, Dr. Surender Kumar Dabas. 

Commenting on this initiative, Dr. Surender Kumar Dabas, Vice Chairman, Oncology, BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital said, “Our motto with this fellowship is 'Upskilling the future generation of surgeons' and the core objective is to equip participants with the skills and expertise needed to confidently navigate the exciting world of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS). It is often difficult for surgeons to gain exposure to robot-assisted surgeries and what sets our fellowship apart is its immersive nature, providing participants with a deep and hands-on experience using advanced surgical systems like da Vinci. We hope that this initiative will influence many young surgeons in India to take-up robot-assisted surgery.”

For the duration of three months, the course will include three sections with exposure to a variety of robotic surgery cases in oncology along with practice sessions on robotic port placement and docking, hands-on experience with a robotic simulator, active involvement as assistant in surgeries, and immersion in from outpatient (OPD) to inpatient (IPD) settings. The training will be carried out on the new-age robot-assisted surgical system, da Vinci by Intuitive. 

Mandeep Singh Kumar, VP and Country General Manager, Intuitive India, said, "We appreciate the vision of BLK Max Super Specialty Hospital to encourage healthcare professionals for adopting new technologies towards enhancing patient outcomes. With robotic surgery continuing to gain prominence as the preferred mode of surgery, early exposure to the robotic platform is becoming increasingly important. We are witnessing a rapid increase in the number of healthcare practitioners in India who are keen to adopt advanced surgical technologies to better serve their patients. Programs like this will help them with the necessary training from the early adopters of RAS, which will eventually lead them to actively use robotic-assisted surgery in their practice. We look forward to continuous improvement in access for patients and clinical outcomes through an increased adoption of robotic-assisted surgery across the country through fellowships like these.”