Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Jul 21: Jammu & Kashmir lacks a robotic surgical system due to which patients are left with no option but to visit the hospitals outside the union territory.
Robot-assisted surgery uses specialized technology that enhances the capabilities of the surgeon’s hands. It allows surgeons to perform procedures in hard-to-reach areas through small incisions. The specialized technology also enables precise movements and enhanced magnification.
The doctors said a robotic surgical system is the need of the hour at tertiary care health facilities as it has multiple benefits.
They said robotic surgery has multiple benefits and if such a system will be established at SKIMS, GMC Srinagar and other tertiary care health facilities, the patients need not go outside J&K for treatment.
Noted urologist Dr Salim Wani said that robotic surgical systems will allow surgeries to be done with precision, miniaturization, small incisions, decreased blood loss, less pain and quicker healing time.
It is the need of the hour to have such a system in place at the earliest because it is the future of surgery without which surgeons will be “worthless and obsolete”, he said.
“It will help in urological, gynaecological, colorectal, neurosurgical and cardio-thoracic procedures with excellent results. Kidney transplantation and open heart procedures are also done with excellent results,” he said, adding that there was an acute need for procurement of this cutting-edge technology, which was not in place in J&K anywhere yet.
Dr Mufti Mahmood, former Head of the Department, Surgery, at GMC Srinagar and Director Urology at Paras Hospital Srinagar, said robotic-assisted surgery is revolutionizing healthcare across the globe. “Robots help surgeons to perform more accurate surgeries. It has a focus on precision care. A surgeon will perform an eight-hour robotic-assisted surgery without getting tired,” he said.
Dr Sajad from GMC Srinagar said robotic surgery including Artificial Intelligence helps surgeons to improve efficiency. “These advanced technologies offer quicker recoveries, no complications, and less hospital stays. These surgeries will be affordable for patients in J&K,” he said.
The doctors said their departments have repeatedly requested the government to bring this advanced technology to Jammu & Kashmir.
The SKIMS, GMC Srinagar and GMC Jammu have virtually trained the surgeons for robotic-assisted surgeries; however, the facilities are yet to be made available.
A top official said that the tenders for the procurement of the Robotic Surgery System have been floated and efforts are on to have such facilities as soon as possible.
