Pakistan Demonstrates First Robotic Telesurgery in Islamabad
A surgeon at an international healthcare conference remotely performed a gallbladder operation on a patient at a Islamabad hospital, marking Pakistan's first robotic telesurgery demonstration.
Pakistan has marked a significant step in surgical innovation with its first successful demonstration of robotic telesurgery, in which a surgeon performed a gallbladder removal operation remotely from an international healthcare conference in Islamabad.
The procedure was carried out by Prof. Dr. Syed Tanseer Asghar, a robotic surgeon and Registrar of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU). He controlled the robotic surgical instruments from the International Conference on Future of Healthcare (FHCC 2026), held at the Gandhara Heritage and Culture Centre, while the patient was operated on at the operating theatre of Kulsum International Hospital in Islamabad.
The demonstration combined robotic technology, surgical expertise and real-time digital connectivity, showing how telesurgery could help overcome geographical barriers and give patients access to specialised surgical skills that may not be available locally.
The achievement also reflects SZABMU's push to promote innovation in healthcare, particularly in robotic surgery, artificial intelligence and emerging medical technologies. The university's Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Tanwir Khaliq, has secured approval to establish SZABMU's first Robotic Surgery and Artificial Intelligence Health Centre, which is expected to support surgical education, research and the use of AI-driven healthcare solutions.
Officials noted that robotic telesurgery could improve access to specialised surgical services in remote and underserved areas, provided that appropriate infrastructure, clinical safeguards and regulatory frameworks are in place.
The collaboration between SZABMU, Kulsum International Hospital and the international conference highlights the role of partnerships between academic institutions, healthcare providers and technology experts in advancing surgical innovation. The landmark demonstration is expected to encourage further research, training and investment in robotic surgery in Pakistan.
