Saudi Arabia expands remote robotic surgery to improve access to specialised healthcare across regions.
Seha Virtual Hospital has successfully performed 11 consecutive remote robotic surgeries across specialised medical fields, enabling patients in Hail and other locations to access advanced surgical care through remote procedures conducted by a surgical team in Riyadh.
The procedures formed part of an integrated robotic surgery network being expanded across Saudi Arabia, including remote and geographically underserved areas. They included a right lower-lobe resection, described as the second remote lobectomy of its kind performed worldwide and the fifth remote pneumonectomy globally, alongside sleeve gastrectomy, hernia repair, pelvic exploration and hysterectomy.
The initiative is part of the Saudi Protocol for Remote Surgical Procedures project, launched by Seha Virtual Hospital as a national reference framework for regulating remote robotic medical interventions and ensuring high standards of quality and patient safety.
The robotic surgical systems used in the project have received approval from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, confirming their compliance with the Kingdom’s regulatory and safety requirements for clinical use.
The initiative represents part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to expand access to specialised healthcare through advanced technologies and strengthen the delivery of medical services across different regions of the Kingdom.
Source: Saudi Press Agency (SPA)
