The Central Institute of Orthopaedics (CIO) at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi scripted a landmark in public healthcare on 22 August, successfully completing its first robot-assisted Total Knee Replacement (TKR) — entirely free of charge under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The milestone makes Safdarjung one of the few Central Government hospitals to offer robotic orthopaedic surgery to economically weaker patients.

The Procedure and the Patient

The surgery was performed on a 75-year-old economically disadvantaged male patient, who received the advanced procedure at no cost under the Ayushman Bharat framework. The successful outcome demonstrates that high-precision robotic surgery need not be confined to private hospital settings, according to hospital officials.

The landmark operation was carried out under the clinical guidance of Prof. Dr Sumit Sural, Director of the Central Institute of Orthopaedics. The surgical team was led by Dr Bhagwati Prasad Sharma, Consultant Professor and Head of Unit, alongside Dr Dhruve Maini and Dr Kartik Yadav. Anaesthesia was managed by Dr Sushil Guria, with operating theatre nursing staff Sister Rekha and Ritika, and technical staff led by Vijender, providing essential support throughout.

Leadership and Institutional Push

The introduction of robot-assisted orthopaedic surgery at CIO has been driven by the leadership of Dr Kavita Sharma, Director of VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, with the initiative aimed at modernising the hospital's surgical capabilities. The hospital said the move reflects its commitment to making advanced technology accessible to patients from all economic backgrounds.

What the Robotic System Can Do

The newly deployed robotic platform is upgradable by design, currently supporting Total Knee Replacement, Partial Knee Replacement, and Hip Joint Replacement procedures. With future software and technology upgrades, the system may also enable robot-assisted spine surgery, potentially broadening the range of advanced procedures available at the institute.

Robot-assisted surgery allows for detailed pre-operative planning and precise surgical execution — particularly in implant positioning and alignment — areas where marginal errors can significantly affect long-term patient outcomes. This is the first time such a system has been operationalised within this Central Government institution.

Significance for Public Healthcare

The integration of robotic surgical technology into the Ayushman Bharat delivery model carries wider implications. Critics and health policy analysts have long argued that cutting-edge surgical care in India remains inaccessible to those without private insurance or out-of-pocket resources. This procedure, conducted free of cost at a government hospital, challenges that assumption directly.

The hospital has indicated that the platform lays the foundation for CIO to expand its robotic-assisted surgical capabilities and offer a broader range of advanced procedures going forward. With the system now operational, Safdarjung Hospital is positioned to scale up technology-enabled orthopaedic care within the public sector.