Mexico and Panama expand robotic surgery in public hospitals

Mexico’s Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) announced a program of five robotic‑surgery projects at specialty hospitals in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Torreón, and the acquisition of 41 new 256‑slice CT scanners for 39 hospitals in 20 states. The institute also installed a CyberKnife system, the first in Mexico, which has treated 354 patients and is said to cost more than 2 million pesos in the private sector. The robotic approach is reported to cut hospital stays from four days to one and lower complication rates.

In Panama, the public health network Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) performed its first robotic surgeries for gynecologic cancers at the Ciudad de la Salud, including two hysterectomies and a myoma removal. Specialists noted reduced blood loss and faster recovery, enabling three procedures in a single day. CSS has purchased three surgical robots, with two additional units destined for other regional hospitals, and is exploring tele‑surgery to extend access to remote patients.