Robots in SIUT
First robotic surgery, training center becomes reality

Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) has set up a robotic surgery and training center. Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated the center—the one which has brought yet another distinction for the institute.
In 2017, SIUT embarked on its Robotic Surgical Program in collaboration with the Civil Hospital Karachi.
The robotic Surgical Unit that the institute established was funded by Bashir Dawood, the Sindh government, and SIUT North America.
SITU website says the donation by Bashir Dawood for the Robotic Unit was to honor his family friend Kassim Parekh, a renowned banker who became Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan.
Recently two robotic surgical units were acquired by SIUT from Cambridge Medical Robotics (CMR). These are currently used by many centers in Europe, the Middle East, India, and Latin America.
This acquisition is part of the SIUT philosophy to remain at the cutting-edge of technology. Robotic surgery is considered the future generation of surgical sciences.
Robotic procedures are associated with less pain, less blood loss, and faster recovery. Patients are discharged within a few days and can resume regular activities.
The unit has started with urological surgeries, to be followed by colorectal and gynecological surgeries. Thus far more than 1000 Robotic Surgeries have been performed at the department.
SIUT had already planned for a regional Robotic Surgical Training Center to train the next generation of surgeons in this state-of-the-art technology both from within Pakistan and the region, the institute says.
Chief Minister Shah said robots performed surgery on organs that are difficult to reach by hand. “It is a revolution.”
Shah congratulated Dr. Adib Rizvi, the founder of SIUT and an internationally acclaimed surgeon.
Shah said he was proud that his government took a lead in robotic surgery in the country. He hoped more centers would be established in the country and offer young doctors to use modern tools and methods.
He also recalled that the first robot was acquired by the Sindh Government in 2017 from Intuitive Surgical Company, USA – The da Vinci System. It was used both by Dr. Ruth Fau, Civil Hospital, and SIUT and later the Robot was moved to a dedicated Robotic Surgery Unit in SIUT. – ER Report