Can A Doctor Perform Surgery From Another Country? Hyderabad Just Saw It Happen

Last Updated:May 25, 2026, 12:54 IST

A Hyderabad surgeon remotely operated on a patient in India while sitting over 4,000 km away in Wuhan, marking a major milestone in robotic healthcare

In a major advancement for remote healthcare and robotic medicine, a Hyderabad-based surgeon successfully carried out a robotic surgery on a patient in India while operating from over 4,000 km away in China.

According to a report in The Hindu, the procedure was performed on May 18, when Dr Syed Mohammed Ghouse, a robotic surgeon at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU) in Hyderabad, remotely conducted a robotic ureteric reimplant surgery on a patient admitted in Hyderabad while he was physically present at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China.

Surgery Conducted Across Two Countries In Real Time

The patient, diagnosed with lower ureteric stricture, was prepared for surgery by the medical team at the Hyderabad hospital before Dr Ghouse took control of the robotic system remotely from Wuhan.

Using a high-speed internet connection, the surgeon operated the robotic instruments in real time from a surgeon’s console located thousands of kilometres away. According to Dr Ghouse, the experience closely resembled performing a standard robotic surgery within the same operation theatre.

How The Robotic Surgery System Worked

Explaining the procedure, Dr Ghouse said robotic surgery functions through a telesurgery model involving three major components: the patient cart attached to the patient, an image cart responsible for processing and displaying visuals, and the surgeon’s console from where the doctor controls the procedure.

He noted that even during conventional robotic surgeries, surgeons do not directly stand over patients during the operation. Instead, they operate through a console connected to robotic instruments. The remote procedure simply extended the same concept across a much greater distance.

Continuous Communication Between Wuhan And Hyderabad

While Dr Ghouse controlled the surgery remotely from Wuhan, a trained surgical assistant remained beside the patient in Hyderabad throughout the procedure.

The teams in both countries stayed connected through uninterrupted two-way communication, allowing instant coordination during every stage of the operation.

According to the surgeon, the real-time interaction between the teams made it feel as though everyone involved was present in the same operating theatre, despite being in different countries.

Surgery Performed Using Chinese Robotic Platform

The operation was carried out using the MedBot robotic platform developed by Chinese medical technology company MicroPort.

Dr Ghouse said the same robotic system has already been introduced in India and is currently available at AINU hospitals.

Stable Internet Connectivity Key To Remote Surgery

An essential requirement for such long-distance robotic procedures is reliable internet connectivity. Dr Ghouse explained that broadband speeds of around 30 to 50 Mbps are necessary to ensure uninterrupted transmission of live surgical visuals and robotic commands during the operation.

Addressing concerns about possible internet disruptions, he said the system includes multiple backup safeguards. According to him, hospitals usually maintain two or three leased internet lines simultaneously, ensuring that if one connection fails, another immediately takes over.

Backup Safety Measures In Place

The surgeon also stressed that patient safety remains protected even in the unlikely event of a total communication failure. A surgical assistant is always stationed beside the patient and can immediately intervene or take control if required during an emergency situation.

Following the surgery, the patient recovered well and was discharged from the hospital on the very same day. After completing the procedure remotely from Wuhan, Dr Ghouse later returned to Hyderabad.

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