Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Aug 29: Yenepoya Medical College Hospital launched its second surgical robotic system, SSi Mantra 3.0, here on Thursday, August 28.
Deputy commissioner H V Darshan said, “Congratulations to the team for this achievement. In this universe, the only constant thing is change, and technology is the driver of change. Through technological advancement, surgeries can now be performed without leaving marks, thereby improving people’s lives. Whenever I served, my focus was on health and education, and in Dakshina Kannada, institutions like Yenepoya and others have been contributing significantly to these sectors.”
Dr Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi felicitated deputy commissioner H V Darshan.
Vice-chancellor of Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Dr M Vijayakumar, said, “As a cancer surgeon, this is a dream come true for us. Over time, we realized that one system was not enough, and it was time to expand. At Yenepoya institutions, we recently added another college—the School of Engineering—making it 12 colleges in total, with 18,000 students and 4,000 employees. I thank the chancellor and pro-chancellor for facilitating the acquisition of the second surgical robotic system. We successfully performed our first robotic surgery yesterday.”
Founder and chairman of SS Innovations International, Dr Sudhir Srivastava, said, “The robotic surgery we performed yesterday was flawless, successful, and something I am absolutely proud of. Our goal is to make this technology affordable, because if it is too costly, it won’t benefit people. Initially, when I started this innovation, it was not easy. I even had to sell my car as I had no money, but persistence was the key. If you have a good idea, chase it—it will work, God willing. Believe in what you want to do.”
Chancellor of Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Dr Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi, said, “This is a new accomplishment in providing quality health care, while also offering free health care to the underprivileged, an area in which we are at the forefront. It is a ground-breaking achievement to have the second surgical robotic system, enabling us to serve humanity better.”
Pro-chancellor of Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Farhad Yenepoya, was also present.
Medical superintendent of Yenepoya Medical College Hospital, Dr Habeeb Rehman, welcomed the gathering, while head of the department of urology, Dr Mujeeb Rehman, proposed the vote of thanks.
Yenepoya Medical College Hospital, the first institution to introduce robotic surgery in coastal Karnataka and North Kerala in 2016, has crossed a milestone of 1,000 robotic procedures and added a new feather to its cap by commissioning the SSI Mantra 3.0 Robotic Surgical System, an advanced platform developed in India.
The latest system, an upgrade over Mantra 2.0, has already been used in nearly 100 surgeries spanning urology, surgical oncology, gynaecology and general surgery. “Mantra 3.0 is a world-class technology built in India and is at par with the best globally,” the hospital stated.
Yenepoya remains the only private medical college in the country to house two robotic surgical platforms — the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System and the SSI Mantra 3.0. It is also the only private hospital in India offering robotic surgeries free of cost to poor patients under government and social security schemes.
Benefits of robotic surgery
Robotic procedures at Yenepoya have helped patients experience smaller incisions, quicker recovery, reduced blood loss, and fewer complications. Surgeons too benefit from enhanced precision in performing complex operations.
Training hub for future specialists
As a teaching hospital, Yenepoya provides hands-on robotic surgery training for surgeons, oncologists, gynaecologists and paramedics. Simulation labs and operation theatres are used to give trainees comprehensive exposure to advanced surgical techniques.
The achievement was highlighted at a press briefing by Dr M Vijayakumar, vice chancellor, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), along with senior faculty and representatives from SS Innovations International, the developers of the Mantra system.
Guided by chancellor Dr Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi, pro-chancellor Farhaad Yenepoya, and vice chancellor Dr Vijayakumar, the hospital reiterated its commitment to expanding access to world-class surgical care for all sections of society, especially the underprivileged.
About Yenepoya Medical College Hospital
Yenepoya Medical College Hospital is a 1,000+ bed multi-specialty teaching hospital offering advanced care in oncology, cardiology, organ transplantation, and critical care. The parent institution, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), accredited with NAAC A+ and ranked among India’s top 100 universities by NIRF 2024, oversees 11 constituent institutions across five campuses.
For more info, log in to: https://www.hospital.yenepoya.edu.in/