United Healthcare successfully performed what it described as the country’s first-ever robotic surgery today, marking a milestone in the use of advanced technology in Bangladesh’s health sector.

Two procedures were successfully performed using a state-of-the-art Medbot Toumai Endoscopic Surgical Robot at United Healthcare in United City on Madani Avenue, doctors involved in the procedures said.

“This is a milestone. We have become a part of the transformation,” said Prof Rafiques Salehin, chief consultant and head of the Department of Surgery at United Medical College Hospital.

He led a team that performed a robotic cholecystectomy, a procedure to remove gallstones from the gallbladder, on a 57-year-old man.

Later, Prof Samsad Jahan Shelly, senior consultant and head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the hospital, performed a robotic hysterectomy, a procedure to remove the uterus, on a 45-year-old woman suffering from abnormal uterine bleeding.

Speaking to reporters after the first procedure about its benefits, Prof Rafiques said the robotic arms can move through 360 degrees, overcoming the limitations of the human hand and enabling exceptional precision in confined spaces.

“This allows for greater protection of blood vessels, minimal invasiveness, significantly less bleeding and faster patient recovery,” he said, adding that the patient who underwent the surgery would be discharged in a day or two.

“Robotic surgery is particularly helpful for complex, major and cancer surgeries, where precise selection of the surgical area is crucial,” he said.

Asked about the cost, Prof Rafiques said robotic surgery is relatively expensive, costing around two to three times more than conventional surgery. However, the cost is expected to come down as its use increases in the coming days, he said.

Many patients currently travel abroad for robotic surgery because of its precision and other benefits, he said, adding that they would now be able to receive the service in Bangladesh.

He said they had brought the robot long ago and several doctors had received training in its use from abroad. However, they received approval from the Directorate General of Drug Administration on Thursday, the letter of which reached them on Monday afternoon.

After receiving the approval, they carried out the procedures in the evening, he added.