Chinese-made surgical robot serves patients worldwide
Chengdu (ANTARA) - Sitting at a control unit in a hospital in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Piotr Suwalski, a Polish doctor, focused on the screen in front of him while controlling a surgical robot more than 7,000 km away in Poland.
Around two hours later, the operation was successfully completed, boosting the doctor’s confidence in promoting this technology in his home country.
Suwalski, director of the National Medical Institute under Poland’s Ministry of the Interior and Administration, said his field of surgery was very clear, and the patient experienced less bleeding compared to traditional thoracotomy procedures.
The operation was one of seven successful remote surgeries performed at the international remote robotics centre at Sichuan University West China Hospital earlier this month in Chengdu, the provincial capital.
Inaugurated on 21 March, the centre is intended to serve as an international smart surgery platform, promoting a shift in medical services from bringing patients in to sending technology out.
Wu Hong, a liver transplant expert and vice president of the hospital, said the establishment of the centre brings real medical benefits to patients.
He highlighted hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeries as examples.
“Instead of travelling to Chengdu for surgery, patients and their families can now undergo operations with robotic assistance in their home cities, reducing financial and time burdens by up to 80 percent,” he said.
To ensure safety during remote operations, a professional team consisting of surgical specialists, anaesthesia experts, nursing staff, network technicians, and equipment technicians has been formed at the centre, which operates under a 24-hour emergency response mechanism.
A Brazilian doctor, Carlos Eduardo Domene, also performed an operation from the centre on a patient more than 10,000 km away in Brazil via the remote surgical robotic system.
Domene, who is also president of the Brazilian Robotics Association, admired the performance of the ultra-high-definition, zero-latency device.
“China’s top-class medical technology and equipment are now being introduced to Brazil through the Belt and Road Initiative, benefiting more patients across South America,” Domene added.
2026 marks a significant milestone for China’s surgical robot industry, with the release of the country’s first guidelines on pricing for such services, expected to open a new phase of regulated growth driven by policy support and rising market demand.
Meanwhile, on a broader global scale, Chinese-made surgical robots are attracting increasing attention. According to data from the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products, China’s surgical robot exports surged 368.1 percent year-on-year in 2025, reflecting growing global recognition of Chinese medical equipment in terms of technological capabilities and international competitiveness.
As the Belt and Road Initiative continues, Chinese surgical robots and other medical devices are accelerating their expansion into overseas markets.
The country’s medical equipment exports totalled $45.8 billion in 2025, up 62.4 percent from 2019, according to the China Medical Equipment Association, adding that China’s medical equipment sector has shifted from cost-driven competitive advantages to those based on technology and brand strength.
At an international surgical robot conference held in late March in Chengdu, more than 700 experts and academics from various countries and regions in North America, Europe, and Asia discussed innovations and developments in surgical robot technology.
Luo Fengming, president of Sichuan University West China Hospital, said at the conference that the inauguration of the hospital’s international remote robotics centre will continue to drive innovative development in surgical robot technology.
The hospital also plans to establish a remote control centre for surgical robots in Egypt in July to support local adoption of the technology and help doctors enhance their skills in the field, ultimately benefiting patients there.
For the next stage, Luo believes efforts should focus on enhancing remote surgery networks as well as further exploration in technological innovation, clinical application, talent training, and other aspects.
“Through closer international cooperation, we will jointly work to elevate surgical robots into more precise, intelligent, and accessible technology,” Luo said.