For the first time in a government hospital, AIIMS Delhi has performed kidney transplants with the help of a robot, bringing high-tech surgery to public healthcare. Since September 3, 2025, the hospital has already completed five successful surgeries, giving new hope to patients with kidney failure. The patients were aged between 27 and 45 years, and all are recovering well. Dr Virinder Bansal, Chief Transplant Surgeon at AIIMS, said: One of them remains admitted as his surgery was conducted just two days ago. What is a robotic renal transplant A robotic renal transplant is a kidney transplant performed using a robotic surgical system. In this case, the Da Vinci Xi surgical system was used. Dr Bansal explained: While laparoscopic surgery limits movement, robotic arms offer far greater freedom and precision. Immediately after surgery, patients showed good urine output, indicating the transplanted kidney started functioning well. How the surgery helps patients The first patient, a 45-year-old man on dialysis for six months, had a successful surgery on September 3. His creatinine levels dropped to 1.2, and he was discharged after 10 days. Dr Bansal added: The recovery rate is faster than open surgery, and patients can be discharged within a week. This technique is safe and available at a much lower cost at AIIMS than in private hospitals. A step forward for public healthcare AIIMS recently launched the Da Vinci Xi system to provide advanced surgical care and handle complex procedures. In less than a year, the hospital has performed over 700 robotic surgeries across specialties. Dr Krishna Asuri, professor at AIIMS, said: With the rising number of end-stage kidney disease cases in India, adopting robotic-assisted surgery is a crucial step to provide precision-driven treatments to more patients. Looking ahead Robotic-assisted kidney transplants are expected to change kidney care in India, offering minimally invasive, precise treatment for patients who otherwise needed traditional surgery. Future transplants are planned under Ayushman Bharat, making this technology accessible to more patients nationwide.
With early results showing successful outcomes and faster recoveries, robotic kidney transplants mark a promising future for public healthcare.
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