A French doctor located in China has achieved a historic milestone in medicine by having performed a remote prostate cancer surgery on a patient located in Morocco, 12,000 kilometers away, using the Toumai Robot, a Chinese-designed surgical system, according to First Post.
The groundbreaking procedure, completed on November 16, lasted under two hours and set a record for the farthest remote surgery ever, with a total communication distance approaching 30,000 kilometers in around trip.
The surgery demonstrated the robot’s precision, maintaining a time lag of only 100 milliseconds, despite operating on a standard broadband connection instead of 5G.
The Toumai Robot permitted precise tumor removal, preserving essential structures such as the vascular-nerve bundle and urethra. Its real-time imaging and control capabilities were pivotal to the operation’s success, demonstrating the system’s reliability.
The procedure builds on previous achievements with the Toumai Robot, including an October surgery to remove a renal cyst that was conducted remotely between Shanghai and Benin.
That operation spanned 27,000 kilometers, highlighting the robot’s growing role in bridging global healthcare disparities. Such technology eliminates the need for patients to travel abroad for specialized care while enabling senior surgeons to guide complex procedures remotely.
China’s commitment to advancing surgical robotics is evident in the Toumai Robot’s track record, having conducted over 250 remote surgeries with a 100% success rate.
These achievements are bolstered by China’s robust 5G infrastructure, with more than 4 million base stations that are accelerating the adoption of advanced medical solutions. The Toumai Robot, now EU-certified, is used in surgeries across specialties, including thoracic, gynecological, and general surgery.
This success follows another landmark surgery earlier this year when a Chinese surgeon remotely performed prostate surgery from Rome on a patient in Beijing.
Using a 5G connection, that operation covered 8,000 kilometers, demonstrating the feasibility of cross-border telemedicine. These advancements mark a transformative era in healthcare, reducing geographic barriers and expanding access to specialized medical expertise.
India is also making strides in surgical robotics with the development of the SSI Mantra system. Designed to address affordability and accessibility, it supports complex procedures and highlights the global drive toward democratizing healthcare through innovation