Top Thai healthcare provider Bangkok Hospital has spent around AUD8.2 million establishing a robotic surgery centre in its quest to become a premier destination for robotic-assisted surgery, making advanced surgical treatments more accessible to patients throughout the region at competitive prices.
Among the latest installed robotic platforms is the da Vinci Xi Surgical System, which enables surgeons to perform complex procedures with improved precision and better dexterity. Conditions that can benefit from robot-assisted surgery include thoracic diseases, urological diseases, hepato-pancreato-biliary diseases, and gynecological diseases.
“We are dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare challenges faced by Southeast Asia, including the growing burden of cancers, an aging population, and disparities in access to quality care,” said Bangkok Hospital Deputy Director Dr Ekkit Surakarn. “Our robot-assisted surgery program is centered around delivering tangible benefits and value to our patients while actively engaging with insurance providers to expand coverage for these advanced treatments.”
Bangkok Hospital has significantly improved operating indicators such as reduced blood loss, shorter recovery time, faster patient mobilization, decreased risk of infection, and unplanned readmission. In specific procedures, the use of robotic systems has enabled nerve-sparing techniques while preserving urinary function in prostate cancer cases and improved lymph node removal in lung cancer cases.
The hospital’s five-year roadmap includes expanding its robotic surgery capabilities, covering more specialties such as ear-nose-throat surgery while investing in education and training to establish Bangkok Hospital as a regional centre for skill development.
“We remain dedicated to advancing the frontiers of robotic surgery and expanding its benefits to patients across Asia,” added Surakarn.
