ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: Islamabad has witnessed its first robotic cholecystectomy performed through telesurgery, marking a significant development in the use of robotic technology and real-time connectivity in Pakistan’s healthcare sector.
Prof Dr Syed Tanseer Asghar, Registrar of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) and a robotic surgeon, operated the robotic surgical console from the International Conference on Future of Healthcare (FHCC 2026), held at the Gandhara Heritage and Culture Centre.
The patient was at Kulsum International Hospital, where the procedure was carried out with a surgical team present on site.
Dr Sana Sharafat Ali, consultant robotic and vascular surgeon, played a key role at the hospital as the patient-side robotic surgeon. She managed the robotic patient cart and provided on-site surgical support, coordinating with Prof Asghar during the operation.
The procedure brought together surgical teams at two locations through a robotic system and real-time connectivity. It demonstrated how remote console operation can be coordinated with clinicians at the patient’s side, while underscoring the importance of clinical teamwork and on-site support in telesurgery.
SZABMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Tanwir Khaliq, who is also a surgeon, said the achievement reflected the university’s commitment to developing expertise in advanced medical technologies.
“Today’s procedure is an important step for SZABMU and for the wider healthcare community. It shows how robotic technology, reliable connectivity and close coordination between surgical teams can expand the possibilities for specialist care. As we develop these capabilities, patient safety, professional training and responsible use of technology must remain central,” Prof Khaliq said.
He said the university had also secured approval for its first Robotic and Artificial Intelligence Health Centre. The proposed centre is intended to support the development of robotic and AI applications in healthcare, alongside training and institutional capacity-building.
The achievement was presented in the setting of FHCC 2026, bringing a practical demonstration of telesurgery before a healthcare audience. It also highlighted the growing role of Pakistani surgeons in adopting and advancing sophisticated medical technologies.
Telesurgery may, in time, help connect specialist expertise with patients in locations where access to particular surgical skills is limited. Its broader use will depend on reliable technology, appropriate clinical protocols and coordination between remote surgeons and teams at the operating site.
The collaboration between Prof Asghar and Dr Sana Sharafat Ali marks a notable milestone in Pakistan’s robotic surgery landscape and opens a new chapter in discussion about digitally connected surgical care.
