China's Surgical Robots Approved for Use in Vietnam Hospitals

China's National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) granted approval for domestically developed surgical robots to be installed in several Vietnamese hospitals, expanding cooperation on training, clinical applications, academic exchanges and talent development. The devices entered Vietnam through the China‑ASEAN medical products trading platform, a cross‑border channel aimed at promoting Chinese pharmaceuticals and medical equipment in Southeast Asia. exports of Chinese surgical robots rose 344% year‑on‑year in the first half of 2026 to US$70 million, with about 10% of shipments going to ASEAN markets and a 246% surge in regional deliveries.

At the same time, the global AI‑based surgical robot market continued rapid growth, valued at US$5.89 billion in 2024 and projected to reach US$8.5 billion by 2025, expanding at an annual rate of roughly 17%. Hospitals across North America, Europe and the Asia‑Pacific are scaling AI‑equipped robotic platforms across specialties such as urology, orthopedics, cardiothoracic and neurosurgery, integrating computer vision, predictive analytics and adaptive motion control into standard clinical workflows.