Hyderabad patient undergoes surgery performed by doctor sitting 3,000 km away in Wuhan

In a major medical achievement, an Indian doctor successfully performed a robot-assisted surgery on a patient in Hyderabad operating remotely from Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China, around 3,000 kilometres away. The surgery was done by urologist Dr Syed Mohammed Ghouse using advanced robotic technology and a high-speed 5G internet connection.

The details of the achievement were shared by Yu Jing, Chinese spokesperson in India, who shared a Chinese report about the surgery.

According to the report, the operation lasted for nearly 90 minutes and was carried out with the support of doctors in both Wuhan and Hyderabad. Before the surgery, the medical teams from both cities studied the patient’s reports online and planned the procedure carefully.

In Hyderabad, doctors prepared the patient by giving anaesthesia and setting up the robotic equipment in the operation theatre. At the same time, Dr Ghouse operated the robotic arms remotely from a console at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan. High-quality 3D cameras sent live visuals from Hyderabad to China, helping the doctor perform the surgery smoothly.

According to reports, the robotic system copied the doctor’s hand movements almost instantly. The fast 5G network helped send instructions quickly, allowing the surgery to be done safely and accurately. Doctors in Hyderabad were also present during the operation in case any emergency support was needed.

The achievement was praised by Jing, saying, “Indian urologist Dr Syed Mohammed Ghouse, stationed in Wuhan successfully performed a robot-assisted ureteral reimplantation in just 90 minutes on a patient 3,000 km away in Hyderabad, India- thanks to China-developed robotics and 5G technology. Life-saving care, transcending borders.”  

According to reports  the surgery was one of 26 operations showcased during the 10th Congress of the Chinese Chapter of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.

Five of the surgeries involved live international remote connections with doctors from countries including India, Brazil, Greece and Uzbekistan.