SIUT stands as a beacon of medical excellence known for its expertise in urology, nephrology, organ transplant, and hepatobiliary care. In its relentless pursuit of innovation, SIUT has advanced its surgical capabilities by incorporating robotic-assisted surgery, marking a significant leap in precision and minimally invasive procedures. Initiated in 2017, SIUT began its robotic surgery program by utilizing a shared Da Vinci robotic surgical system at Civil Hospital Karachi, successfully performing more than 600 procedures. In November 2021, SIUT established the Kassim Parekh Robotic and Laparoscopy Unit, featuring the advanced, state-of-the-art Versius robotic surgical system. Since its implementation, over 2500 surgeries have been successfully conducted, revolutionizing surgical precision in urological, hepatobiliary, and colorectal surgery. In October 2022, SIUT expanded its robotic surgery services to Sukkur by establishing a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery at the SIUT Chablani Medical Centre. The two-day Global Robotic Surgery Symposium highlights SIUT’s commitment to expand Robotic Surgery all over Pakistan. Symposium was held on February 14-15, 2025. This was a joint meeting of the International Society of Robotic Surgery (SRS) and the Pakistan Society of Robotic Surgeons (PSRS). The inaugural sessions included a welcome address by Prof. Adib Rizvi and speeches by Prof. Saeed Qureshy, President of PSRS, and Prof. Ghulam Abbas, President of SRS. The session was moderated by Dr. Irfan Rizvi, Chairman Dept. of Surgery Virginia Hospital Center Washington.
The symposium also included a hands-on workshop on the general introduction of robotic simulation and individual practice of 2-3 basic exercises on Virtual Reality (VR). The two-day symposium had 6 sessions focusing on various aspects of robotic surgery. It brought together surgeons and medical specialists from across the globe. The symposium focused on advancing robotic surgical expertise, emphasizing the need for collaboration and resource sharing to expand across to minimally invasive surgical techniques in Pakistan. The experts provided valuable insights into Robotic Surgery Application in Urology, Hepatobiliary, General surgery, and gynecological surgery.