Thailand and Panama achieve milestones in robotic telesurgery

Thailand and Panama have successfully performed milestone robotic telesurgeries, demonstrating the growing capability of remote medical procedures using high-speed connectivity.

In Thailand, surgeon Peeradon Sapermsap performed the country’s first interprovincial robotic surgery. Operating from Bangkok, the surgeon controlled a robot to treat a prostate cancer patient located in Nakhon Ratchasima, over 250 kilometers away. The procedure utilized high-speed internet with a latency of approximately 22 milliseconds, allowing for near real-time visualization. The Ministry of Public Health plans to expand this network to regional hospitals.

In Panama, the Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) conducted the first bidirectional robotic telesurgeries in the region. Dr. Guillermo Bailey operated from Chiriquí on a patient located in Panama City to perform a cholecystectomy. The program also demonstrated bidirectional capability, where specialists in the capital subsequently performed remote interventions on patients located in Chiriquí.