Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru, a leading institution in multi-specialty tertiary care, has joined hands with Intuitive, a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), to introduce resident surgeons to robotic-assisted surgical technology through the Intuitive Robotic Onboarding Programme and Education (I-ROPE).
This initiative marks the introduction of I-ROPE in a private hospital in India, providing surgical oncology postgraduate trainees with exposure to robotic-assisted surgery and its clinical applications.
The I-ROPE programme is designed to introduce early-career surgeons to robotic-assisted surgery through structured sessions that cover the technology, its applications across various surgical disciplines, and its potential role in modern clinical practice.
At Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, the programme is being conducted using the state-of-the-art da Vinci surgical system, providing residents hands-on familiarity with one of the most advanced robotic-assisted surgical platforms available today.
Despite the increasing adoption of robotic-assisted surgery worldwide, exposure to this technology remains limited within traditional surgical training programs in India. This collaboration between Intuitive and Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre aims to bridge this gap by integrating robotic-assisted surgery into early-stage surgical exposure, to help prepare future surgeons for evolving medical practices.
Intuitive has been expanding access to robotic-assisted surgery in India through the successful implementation of the I-ROPE programme across leading government medical institutions. These include AIIMS Delhi, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, and Armed Forces Medical College in Pune.
