Mumbai: Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, has announced a major breakthrough in the field of minimally invasive surgery with the launch of India’s first Medbot Toumai Robotic Surgery System. The announcement, made on August 30, 2025, marks a significant step forward in the evolution of surgical care in the country. The cutting-edge platform, inaugurated by Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairperson and Managing Director of Medanta, alongside Mrs. Tina Ambani, Chairperson of Kokilaben Hospitals, underscores the institution’s ongoing commitment to advancing medical technology for better patient outcomes.
The Medbot Toumai Robotic Surgery System is an AI-enabled platform designed to enhance precision in complex procedures, offering benefits such as greater surgical accuracy, reduced blood loss, faster recovery times, minimal scarring, and shorter hospital stays. Its standout feature is the ability to support telesurgery, allowing real-time remote operations with no perceptible delay across distances of up to 5,000 kilometers. This advancement could transform access to surgical expertise in underserved regions, bridging geographical barriers to deliver world-class healthcare.
Kokilaben Hospital has a strong legacy in robotic surgery, having introduced the da Vinci Robotic System back in 2012. Over the years, it has performed more than 4,500 robotic-assisted surgeries across diverse specialties, ranging from urology and gynecology to cancer care. It holds the distinction of being the first hospital in India to complete over 2,600 robotic surgeries specifically for prostate, kidney, and urinary bladder cancer. With the addition of Toumai, the hospital now operates three advanced robotic systems, strengthening its ability to handle complex cases with unmatched precision.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Trehan called the Medbot Toumai system a “game-changer for Indian healthcare,” praising its AI-driven precision and telesurgery capabilities that democratize access to quality surgical care. Tina Ambani emphasized Kokilaben’s patient-centric approach, noting that the new system perfectly aligns with the hospital’s mission to provide world-class healthcare with minimal discomfort and quicker recovery for patients. Dr. Yuvaraja T.B., Head of Robotic Surgery at Kokilaben, highlighted how the system allows surgeons to perform intricate procedures with enhanced ease, particularly in confined areas of the body, resulting in safer surgeries and faster patient recovery.
The versatile Toumai system supports multiple specialties, including urology, gynecology, cardiology, and general surgery. It features a modular multi-arm setup, a high-definition 3D 4K monitor, and over 40 robotic endo-surgical instruments, along with AI-powered surgical planning tailored to individual patient anatomy. Dr. Santosh Shetty, Executive Director and CEO of the hospital, pointed out that advanced robotic surgeries are becoming increasingly cost-competitive and are now recognized by insurance providers, thereby making them accessible to a wider population.
For patients, the benefits are tangible. Smaller incisions mean reduced pain, minimal scarring, lower infection risks, and quicker return to normal routines. At Kokilaben’s Navi Mumbai facility, for instance, a 40-year-old resident, Suman Bhadra, who underwent gall bladder surgery using robotic technology, experienced significantly less pain and a faster recovery compared to traditional procedures.
With the launch of the Medbot Toumai system, Kokilaben Hospital once again places itself at the forefront of surgical innovation in India. The integration of advanced robotics with a patient-first philosophy ensures not only world-class treatment but also wider access to it. As the demand for minimally invasive procedures grows, Kokilaben’s role as a pioneer continues to expand, offering hope and advanced care to patients across the country and beyond.
