Medical experts at Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) successfully performed the hospital’s first-ever robotic surgery on Thursday using the Chinese-made Toumai surgical robot.
The milestone marks a significant leap in Pakistan’s adoption of advanced medical technology. The procedure was conducted collaboratively by local and UK-based specialists, showcasing growing international cooperation in healthcare innovation.
The robotic operation involved removing the adrenal glands of a 70-year-old female patient suffering from a hormonal tumour known as pheochromocytoma. The condition had caused episodes of severe hypertension, palpitations, and headaches due to excess hormone secretion. The surgery, led by Professor Mateen Sharif and Professor Shamim Khan from the UK alongside Pims surgeons, is expected to stabilise the patient’s blood pressure and improve her quality of life.
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Executive Director of Pims, Dr Rana Imran Sikander, said the event marked a new era for public-sector healthcare in Pakistan. He confirmed that the surgery was performed using equipment brought by the UK team and that Pims plans to purchase its own robotic system soon. He added that robotic procedures will help patients recover faster, experience less pain, and achieve better clinical results compared to traditional surgeries.
Pims spokesperson Dr Mubashir Daha explained that the Toumai robot enhances surgical precision with its force-sensing and telerobotic capabilities. These features allow surgeons to perform complex procedures with minimal invasiveness, leading to quicker recovery times and fewer complications. Doctors from the hospital’s urology and general surgery departments also assisted in the operation.
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Director of Robotic Surgery at Pims, Prof Mateen Sharif, described the breakthrough as the beginning of a “new chapter” for Pakistan’s healthcare system. He said the team’s goal is to expand robotic surgery across major hospitals in the country. A training workshop on robotic surgery, led by Prof Dr Atif Inam Shami, is also being held at Pims to equip local surgeons with the skills to use this transformative technology.