JJ Hospital Achieves Milestone with First Successful Robotic Surgery
Marking a significant leap in public healthcare, the state-run Sir J. J. Hospital successfully performed its first-ever robotic surgery on Wednesday, becoming the first government hospital in Maharashtra to adopt robotic surgical technology.
The landmark procedure was performed free of cost, in stark contrast to private hospitals where robotic surgeries typically cost between ₹3 to ₹5 lakh. The beneficiary of this groundbreaking initiative was Shankar Parab, a resident of Dombivli, who had been suffering from a hernia for several months.
Parab was admitted to the General Surgery Department at J. J. Hospital for the procedure. The surgery was conducted under the expert supervision of Dr. Ajay Bhandarwar, Head of the General Surgery Department and Dean of the hospital. The medical team also included Dr. Girish Bakshi, Dr. Amol Wagh, Dr. Supriya Bhondwe, and Dr. Kashif Ansari.
He was admitted to the General Surgery Department of J. J. for the surgery. This robotic surgery was performed under the guidance of Dr. Ajay Bhandarwar, Head of the General Surgery Department and Dean of the hospital. Dr. Girish Bakshi, Dr. Amol Wagh, Dr. Supriya Bhondwe and Dr. Kashif Ansari participated. The entire cost of the first 500 robotic surgeries in J. J. will be borne by the company providing the 'robo'. Therefore, the patients will not have to spend much for it. Currently, robotic surgeries are performed only in private hospitals.
Cost-Free Surgeries for the First 500 Patients
In a generous move, the company that supplied the robotic system has agreed to bear the entire cost of the first 500 robotic surgeries performed at JJ Hospital. This ensures that patients from economically weaker sections can access cutting-edge medical treatment without incurring any financial burden.
Currently, robotic surgeries are predominantly available in high-end private healthcare institutions, making JJ Hospital’s initiative a game-changer for accessible and affordable healthcare in the public sector.
Patient Recovery and Feedback
Post-surgery, Shankar Parab expressed relief and satisfaction, saying, “I am not feeling much pain. The doctors have told me I’ll be discharged within two days. The same surgery would have cost a lot in a private hospital, but it was done completely free at JJ.”
This achievement not only underscores the medical excellence of JJ Hospital but also represents a major step forward in democratizing access to advanced healthcare technologies in India.