2-Day National Conference on Robotic Gynaecological Surgery, RoboGynIndia 2023 inaugurated

Hyderabad, August 12, 2023: The prestigious two-day national conference on robotic gynaecological surgery, RoboGynIndia 2023, was inaugurated by Dr Sangita Reddy, JMD, Apollo Hospitals Group & Chair, G20 EMPOWER and  Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, I&C and IT, Govt of Telangana; today at the Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel, Gachibowli. Association of Gynecological Robotic Surgeons (AGRS) is a first-of-its-kind association in India to train and make gynecologists proficient in performing the advanced robotic surgeries.
 

Jayesh Ranjan said, Telangana which was formed in 2014 needed to catch up with the lost time of decades when the state was left out, thats when we realized that we need to become a technology enabled state and technology can leapfrog the states developmental agenda. As a government we focused on some of the cutting-edge technologies in the last nine years and the latest technology we are focusing on is Robotics. We launched our robotics policy in February this year, becoming the first state in the country to have a state specific robotic policy. We decided to focus on four verticals of Healthcare, Agriculture, Industrial automation, and consumer robotics as part of this policy. Healthcare is one prime sectors for promoting robotic technology. The framework of this policy is rested on five pillars. First one is how to encourage private companies to design their hardware and robotic software in our state. We are in advance talks with some premier companies who manufacture robots, and they are contemplating setting up their facilities in Hyderabad. To promote innovation, one of the first startups which focused on robotic surgery actually is from Hyderabad and we want to set up a robotic accelerator which promotes startup activity. We have one of the country’s prototyping facilities called the T-Works and we will provide the space for Robotics accelerator there. The other area of focus is creating a pool of talent in this area. To catchup with the advances in this area in other countries, we have now started courses in our colleges. Through TASK we identified few agencies which have programs in Robotics and are trying to introduce those programs in our colleges. In two years, we intend to have a pool of ten thousand students with some basic or advance course in robotics. The premier government healthcare institution in Hyderabad, NIMS has acquired state of the art the da Vinci Xi 4th version system fully equipped robotic surgery lab, which no one in the country has and that’s an example of the Telangana Government leading by example.    
 

Dr Sangita Reddy said, I remember the day our Chairman Dr Prathap C. Reddy said we are going to buy five robots, he had seen and analyzed at that time itself the power of robotic surgery way back in 2011. From that time Apollo group did 12000 robotic surgeries and Dr Rooma Sinha herself did 700 robotic surgeries. However, the machine is useless without the individual and therefore the power of your coming together, for training programs like this, for panel discussions, updating, is what makes the difference. The other technology I believe strongly in, is the power of remote care. We are test piloting an Indian made robot in one of our hospitals. The stories of tele mentored surgeries, appropriate diagnosis, tele-radiology, telepathology, tele-ICU, tele-emergency moving of care, connectivity and remote care are all becoming common place, but they are also making everyday miracles happen in the healthcare sector. We have a shortage of critical care specialists, but we can mentor an ICU in a remote area and ensure they get the best care. All these are powerfully transforming the way care is delivered across the India and the world. A combination of science and innovation will be unfolding in the future and you play a very critical role during this journey.     
 

Dr. Rooma Sinha, the organizing chairperson of RoboGynIndia and the Founder President of AGRS, said, "the scene of gynaecological surgery has seen a paradigm shift with the adoption of Robotic Assisted surgery, today not just the surgeons are wanting to learn newer techniques, it’s also the patients wanting to have such surgery, because technology has made possible those difficult surgeries which were otherwise not possible with laparoscopic surgery to be performed in a minimal access way by using robotic technology. Women needing surgery should be offered minimal access surgery and that’s the bottom line we as gynecologists must be able to provide. Association of Gynecological Robotic Surgeons main vision is responsible deployment of technology. This is possible when the person deploying the technology is properly trained, has been mentored well, understands that robot is just a tool, it doesn’t make you a good surgeon, so you need to have basics and also need to learn this technology and that’s where the role of AGRS is critical. We have now tied up with the Society of European Robotic Gynecological surgeons and are trying to do an Indo-European training program, which enables us to have a diploma and makes the learning rigorous without any bias and ensures it is objectively assessed. At the end of it we have well trained surgeons to use this technology for the women of this country.          
 

The Conference being held on August 12th and 13th, is being hosted by the Association of Gynaecological Robotic Surgeons of India (AGRS) along with the Intuitive Surgical for International conference on Robotic Gynaecological Surgery. Dr Rooma Sinha, President- AGRS, Honorary Professor & Chief Gynecologist Robotic & Laparoscopic Surgeon, Apollo Health City, Hyderabad; Dr Rama Joshi, Vice President-AGRS, Principal Director & HOD, Gynae Oncology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute; Dr Arnold P Advincula, Former President- AAGL, Columbia University Medical Center New York, Vice-Chair for Women’s Health Chief of Gynecology, Sloane Hospital for Women Division Chief, Gynecologic Specialty Surgery; Dr Tony Chalhoub, Consultant, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS foundation trust, UK and Dr Joseph Ng, Founder President, ASRGS, Senior Consultant, Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore; graced the occasion.
 

RoboGynIndia 2023 will familiarize doctors from across India with the clinical application of the latest techniques in treating gynecological disorders. The conference is a unique opportunity for delegates to interact with eminent international and Indian faculties and gain insights to make the technology clinically relevant to their practice. By harnessing the exceptional capabilities of RAS systems Gynecologists can now provide minimal access benefits to all women reducing the need for OPEN SURGERY in complex surgical interventions.” Focused on fostering the advancement and growth of robotic-assisted surgery in India, this conference is aspiring to establish a cohesive community of like-minded gynaecologists, building meaningful networks that offer mutual benefits to all participants.
 
Spread across two days, the conference will have curated and comprehensive master class sessions focusing on robotic gynaecological procedures. Esteemed gynaecological experts, which include four international faculty members who are physically present and two joining the meeting on zoom, will share their knowledge on the topics such as ‘Complex hysterectomy in benign gynaecology’, ‘Robotic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer’, ‘Robotic excision techniques in endometriosis’, and ‘New frontiers in gynaecology oncology with robotics’.  On the second day of the conference, a diverse array of subjects will be covered, encompassing topics such as establishing successful robotic units, exploring emerging technologies, showcasing videos by master surgeons. Additionally, attendees can participate in insightful panel discussions.

The conference boasts a lineup of distinguished international faculty, including Dr. Arnold Advincula, USA; Dr. Jeong-Yeol Park, Dr. Tony Chalhoub, UK and Dr. Joseph Ng, Singapore, who will share their expertise and insights on the topic with participants. Furthermore, the conference will also host interactive simulation workshops aim of offering training and skill development opportunities to more than 150 participants including budding surgeons. This is the second edition of RoboGynIndia, further seeing a participation of more than 100 gynaecological surgeons from across the country in the inaugural edition last year. The organizing committee is planning to conduct this conference in the coming years as well.