Robotic Surgery Gains Ground In India, But Cost Remains A Hurdle

India is rapidly embracing robotic surgery, with Delhi-NCR emerging as a major hub, even as cost, infrastructure, training and access remain hurdles to wider adoption.

Data presented at the recently concluded two-day Society of Robotic Surgery (SRS) India 2026 conference in the national capital shows that robotic-assisted procedures in India increased from 8,912 in 2021 to 44,857 in 2025. Estimates suggest that worldwide, over 11 million robotic surgeries have been performed to date, suggesting that robots are gradually being integrated into clinical practice to perform complex operations, including minimally invasive and guided non-surgical procedures.

In Delhi-NCR, procedures rose from 2,257 to 10,937 during the same period. The region now has robotic systems in 39 hospitals, with 11 hospitals operating more than one system. The technology is being used across urology, gynaecology, general surgery and cancer care.

Prof Dr Anup Kumar, Organising Chairman (Urology), SRS India, and Head, Department of Urology, Robotic and Renal Transplant, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, said the numbers reflect the growing acceptance of robotic surgery across specialties in the country.

But rapid expansion does not necessarily mean the medical community is convinced that robotic surgery should replace conventional or laparoscopic procedures on a large scale, as has been found in a recent study published in Bioinformation.

Based on a survey of 609 doctors in North Maharashtra, the study found that 43.2% believed robotic surgery could eventually replace laparoscopic surgery, while 38.9% were unsure whether India was ready for such a shift. Only 28.9% felt the country was ready.

The study, “Unveiling the landscape of robotic surgery: Insights into Indian medical perspectives”, also highlighted a knowledge gap. About 35.6% of doctors described their knowledge of robotic surgery as limited and 32.7% as very limited. Only 8% rated their knowledge as advanced.

Yet, there was broad recognition of its potential. About 77.5% of respondents said robotic surgery could benefit both surgeons and patients. Better assistance during delicate procedures, surgical accuracy and minimally invasive techniques were among the key advantages identified.

Cost emerged as the biggest barrier. Nearly 68% of doctors cited high cost as a major disadvantage, while 36.1% pointed to specialised infrastructure and 34.3% to limited accessibility. When asked about barriers to wider adoption, 72.2% identified cost, 29.7% the logistical challenges of setting up robotic units and 28.1% inadequate insurance coverage or reimbursement.

The study was conducted by Dr Vinayak J Shenage, Dr Harshal A Chohatkar, Dr Nitin M Baste and Dr Sanjay P Dhangar from SMBT IMSRC, Nashik, and Dr Aishwarya Patil from Bharati Hospital and Research Centre, Pune.

For India, the question is therefore not simply how quickly robotic systems can be installed, but how the technology can become affordable, evidence-based and accessible beyond well-equipped metropolitan hospitals.

At a press meet on the sidelines of the (SRS) India 2026 conference, Dr Anup Kumar said, “India is no doubt at a defining point in its robotic-surgery journey and could potentially emerge as a global leader in the sector by 2030, if the current momentum continued issues like affordability and training are worked on. Around 600 to 700 robotic systems have already been installed across the country. Given its advantage, we are likely to see a ‘tsunami’ of robots in the coming years."

Dr Vivek Bindal, Organising Chairman, SRS India, and Principal Director and Head, Department of Minimal Access, Bariatric and Robotic Surgery, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh said the growth was not merely about the number of machines but also about the emergence of high-volume hospitals and multidisciplinary teams developing expertise in robotic surgery.

Their observation had found echo in Union Health Minister J P Nadda, video message delivered at the conference, when he said, India was at an “exciting juncture”, with technology, artificial intelligence, digital health and surgical robotics creating opportunities to innovate and build domestic capabilities.

One of the most significant developments discussed at the conference was the potential of robotic tele-surgery to overcome geographical barriers.

Dr Anup Kumar recently performed a robotic urological tele-surgery procedure remotely from Gurugram on a patient in Hyderabad, more than 1,600 km away. Dr Bindal also led a live cross-border robotic tele-surgery demonstration between India and China, with surgeons at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, remotely operating a robotic console located nearly 5,000 km away in Chengdu, China.

The technology could eventually allow specialists in major centres to support surgeons and patients in smaller cities. But its wider use will require reliable connectivity, cybersecurity, trained teams at the patient’s location, emergency preparedness, credentialing and regulatory oversight.

Training will be equally important. In the North Maharashtra study, 60.6% of doctors said training and education could encourage wider adoption, while 43.2% favoured subsidies for robotic equipment. Nearly 27% identified certificate courses, fellowships or super-speciality training as important.

The study also found a generational difference in perceptions. Among doctors below 36 years, 57.7% believed robotic surgery could replace laparoscopy in the future, compared with 25.6% of those aged 46-55. More than half of those surveyed — 51.1% — expected robotic surgery to become more widespread in India over the next five to 10 years.

Dr Eduardo Parra-Davila, Director of Minimally Invasive and Colorectal Surgery, Director of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Reconstruction, Robotic Surgery Institute, USA, and representing the Society of Robotic Surgery, said India could play an important role in expanding access to advanced surgery.

“Our mission is not only to advance the technology but also to improve access and outcomes, particularly for patients who currently have limited access to advanced surgical care."

“We are very excited about our partnership with India. It is a large country with highly skilled surgeons and a rapidly advancing technology ecosystem. I believe India has enormous potential for growth in robotic surgery."

“We would like to serve as a window through which the world can see what India is doing and what Indian surgeons are capable of in the field of robotics. I believe next year’s meeting will be a major step in strengthening India’s role in global robotic surgery and international collaboration.”

Dr Vipul Patel, Executive Director, SRS, and Medical Director, Global Robotic Institute, AdventHealth Celebration, USA, and a globally recognised robotic surgeon who has set a world record in the field, was of the opinion that falling costs could make the technology more accessible.

“India has very well-trained surgeons, and the technology is now becoming increasingly available to them. Earlier, robotic surgery was extremely expensive and restricted to a limited number of centres. As more robotic systems enter the market, costs are coming down, allowing more surgeons and hospitals to access the technology,” he said.

Dr Patel, a native of Gujarat, said the larger objective is to ensure that advanced surgical expertise reached underserved communities.

“For me, this is ultimately about the humanitarian side of surgery — being able to provide care to people who otherwise may not have access to specialised expertise,” he said, even as he hoped that tele-surgery could connect specialists in major centres with patients in underserved areas, potentially taking minimally invasive surgical expertise beyond major cities.

Dr Bindal added, “India can provide healthcare at a level comparable to that in the US in many cases, but at nearly one-tenth of the cost. Robotic surgery has further strengthened this capability."

“We are seeing patients coming to India for treatment from Africa, the Middle East, CIS countries, the US, the UK, Europe and Australia. Robotic surgery is emerging as an important tool that can help India offer advanced treatment and expertise at a much lower cost.”

This can not only strengthen medical tourism but also help take robotic surgery expertise beyond major cities and make advanced surgical care accessible to more hospitals and patients.

He added that tele-training and tele-mentoring could help address the shortage of specialised expertise.

“A specialist sitting in the US can train or mentor surgeons in India remotely. Similarly, specialists in major Indian cities can train and guide surgeons in smaller cities,” he said.

For India, the next phase of robotic surgery will therefore be defined not merely by the number of machines installed, but by whether the technology can be integrated with clinical evidence, skilled manpower, appropriate patient selection and affordable care.

As the study concluded, “Training, clinical evidence, infrastructure, affordability and appropriate patient selection will determine whether robotic surgery can move beyond a technology concentrated in well-equipped metropolitan hospitals and become a meaningful part of surgical care across the country.”