Extremadura hospitals lag behind in robotic surgery adoption

In the Extremadura region of Spain, only the university hospitals in Badajoz and Cáceres have robotic surgery platforms – a Da Vinci system and a Hugo RAS – while the other six health areas lack this technology. Dr. Olga Blasco, president of the Extremadura Surgical Society, said the region "has only a handful of platforms for the whole community and is at the tail of the country". The limited availability hampers the growing demand for robotic procedures, which offer three‑dimensional high‑definition vision and greater precision, especially for complex pelvic, urological, gynecological and thoracic operations. Although laparoscopic surgery remains effective, experts argue that robotic assistance can reduce complications and improve outcomes, but access in Extremadura remains uneven.