Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad has crossed the landmark of 1,000 robotic-assisted surgeries in under three years, the Telangana government announced on Monday, 3 August. The achievement positions NIMS as one of the few public-sector hospitals in India to reach this scale in robotic surgery, with over 90 per cent of the procedures provided free of cost to patients.

Breakdown of Procedures

Of the 1,000 completed surgeries, the Department of Urology accounted for the largest share with 590 procedures, followed by Surgical Gastroenterology with 248, and Surgical Oncology with 162. The operations covered a broad clinical spectrum — from complex cancer surgeries such as radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer and radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, to robotic renal transplantation, urogynecological procedures, and paediatric pyeloplasty. Patients ranged in age from 1 year to over 80 years.

Free Care Under Government Schemes

More than 90 per cent of the robotic surgeries were delivered at no cost to patients under the Aarogyasri health scheme and the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF). This makes NIMS arguably the only public hospital in the country offering robotic surgical care at this volume to economically disadvantaged patients. The integration of robotic technology has, according to the hospital, improved surgical precision while reducing postoperative pain, blood loss, and hospital stay duration.

What the Government Said

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who serves as President of the NIMS Governing Council, commended NIMS Director and Senior Professor of Urology and Renal Transplantation and Robotic Surgery Coordinator Dr Rahul Devraj, along with the departments of Urology, Surgical Gastroenterology, Surgical Oncology, Anaesthesiology, Nursing Services, and Operation Theatre staff. He described the milestone as 'a transformative moment in public healthcare,' according to the Chief Minister's Office.

Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha also congratulated the NIMS team, saying: 'As a testament to our government's resolve to bring advanced medical services within the reach of the people, it is heartening that more than 90 per cent of these robotic surgeries have been provided free of cost through the Aarogyasri and CMRF schemes. Ensuring world-class medical services for every citizen is the goal of the Telangana government.'

Why This Milestone Matters

Robotic-assisted surgery in India has largely remained the preserve of private hospitals, where a single procedure can cost several lakhs of rupees. NIMS reaching 1,000 such procedures — predominantly for patients who could not have privately funded their treatment — represents a meaningful shift in how public health infrastructure can be leveraged. This comes amid broader national efforts to upgrade tertiary care at government hospitals, and Telangana's model may serve as a reference point for other states. Whether the programme can be sustained and scaled further will depend on continued government funding and the availability of trained robotic surgery teams.