Telangana wants its next generation of doctors trained in robotic surgery, plans six-month training for PG students

Telangana is proposing to incorporate six months of robotic surgery training into the curriculum of postgraduate medical students, in an effort to develop a trained workforce for expanding advanced robotic procedures across its government hospitals. Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha announced that the government will seek approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC) to integrate this dedicated training period into the three-year postgraduate program.

Speaking at the 'State Level Multi-Specialty Robotic Surgery Workshop' in Hyderabad, the Minister emphasized that this training would be crucial for Telangana's plans to broaden robotic surgery, through a hub-and-spoke model or dedicated facilities at the district level. The proposal follows Telangana's ongoing efforts to create a statewide pool of surgeons trained in robotic procedures, with surgeons from 35 medical colleges and 47 hospitals, excluding specialty hospitals, currently being trained at two government institutions, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) and MNJ Cancer Institute.

Robotic surgery expert Dr. Sudhir Srivastava highlighted that this approach could enable specialist expertise to reach patients without necessitating travel to major cities, addressing the financial and emotional strain experienced by families from rural and smaller communities. Dr N. Bheerappa, former NIMS Director, shared that NIMS recently completed nearly 1,000 robotic surgeries, with the government covering the costs for eligible patients through the Rajiv Aarogyasri health scheme.

Director of Medical Education Dr N. Vani stressed that government medical colleges must balance patient care with training the next generation of doctors, stressing that young surgeons should combine technological advancements with clinical judgment, human touch, and compassion. However, experts cautioned that expanding robotic surgery involves more than just installing machines; government hospitals should focus on equitable access to advanced surgical technology, considering infrastructure, trained faculty, structured protocols, multidisciplinary teamwork, and institutional support.