PESHAWAR: Institute of Kidney Diseases, Hayatabad Medical Complex, has planned to launch robotic surgeries for the first time in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The development surfaced after a one-day live workshop at Institute of Kidney Diseases (IKD) on Friday last during which two robotic surgeries were performed by Prof Matin Sheriff, the director of Robotic Surgery West Kent Urology Cancer Centre, Medway NHS Foundation Trust Kent, UK.

Dr Javed Burki, the consultant urological surgeon at Medway NHS Foundation Trust Kent, UK, was also part of the two-member team that specially arrived Peshawar to facilitate the live worship.

Prof Martin told this scribe that robotic surgery was gaining currency around the globe. “Not only in developed countries where it is common, is it also being practiced in Punjab and Sind provinces. We want to train doctors and other support staff and benefit patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.

UK-based surgeons conduct procedure during live workshop

He said that it was an advanced technology. “Now robotic surgeries are also conducted through internet,” he added.

Robot-Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery (Ramis) is an advanced surgical technique. Through this technique, surgeons use a console to control robotic arms equipped with specialised instruments and a high-definition 3D camera, which allows doing complex surgeries through small incisions, with precision, flexibility and control as compared to traditional open surgery.

IKD director Dr Kamran Khan told Dawn that he had sent a proposal to BoG chairman Prof Noorul Iman for approval and onward demand for special grant from the government.

“It is need of the day. The UK-based surgeons have showed interest to help us in starting robotic surgeries. The company providing robots will also support us in imparting training to our staff,” he said.

He said that the company transported robot from Karachi on the request of UK’s surgeons free of cost. “During the live awareness workshop, our surgeons and staff also got idea about the new technology as there was a lot of discussion followed by questions and answer session,” he added.

He said that a proposal would be sent to government through BoG to purchase robot for IKD and approve special package for robotic cases on the pattern of renal and other transplants under Sehat Card Plus scheme. “For better results, we need government’s help,” he said.

Dr Kamran said that the cost of robot was about $1 million. “IKD has state-of-the-art operation theatres with a lot of space to start robotic procedures. Our surgeons are trained in laparoscopic surgeries and they could master the art of robotic surgeries after training,” he added.

He said that the training of doctors and other staff would improve outcome of surgeries. “Initially, we will go for complicated surgeries like tumours but later on we can start all types of procedures using robot,” he said.

The IKD director said that not only patients benefitted from the new technology but surgeons also conducted procedures with comfort as compared to open surgeries during which they remained extremely engaged. “It entails more advantages as we can start transplants, which are currently conducted through robots in developed countries,” he added.

Urologist Dr Rizwanullah Kundi at IKD, who was part of the workshop, said that they had no experience but would get training after getting robots. “The chairman of BoG and the director of IKD have been working to launch robotic surgeries. May be senior people are sent for training abroad,” he added.

He said that the two patients, who underwent robotic surgeries, had been admitted with kidney mass and tumour from OPD. He said that they were doing well.

“It reduces patients stay at hospitals. Procedures are conducted with very small incisions with less bleeding and fewer chances of infection,” said Dr Rizwan.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2026