Pakistani surgeon Prof. Dr. Syed Tanseer Asghar has performed the country’s first remote robotic gallbladder surgery in Islamabad, operating from a healthcare conference while the patient was at Kulsum International Hospital, where a surgical team provided on-site support.
Prof. Dr. Syed Tanseer Asghar, renowned robotic surgeon at Kulsum International Hospital, Islamabad, and Registrar at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), operated the robotic surgical console remotely from the International Conference on Future of Healthcare (FHCC 2026).
The conference was held at the Gandhara Heritage and Culture Center, while the patient was at Kulsum International Hospital, where a surgical team provided on-site support during the procedure, according to a press release issued by SZABMU.
The operation, known as a robotic cholecystectomy, involves the surgical removal of the gallbladder using robotic-assisted surgical instruments controlled by a surgeon.
Surgical Teams Coordinate Across Two Locations
Dr. Sana Sharafat Ali, consultant robotic and vascular surgeon, served as the patient-side surgeon at Kulsum International Hospital.
She managed the robotic patient cart and provided on-site surgical support, coordinating with Prof. Asghar throughout the operation.
The procedure brought together surgical teams at two separate locations through a robotic system and real-time connectivity. It demonstrated how a surgeon can remotely operate a robotic console while working in coordination with clinicians physically present alongside the patient.
The operation also highlighted the importance of clinical teamwork and on-site surgical support in telesurgery.
SZABMU Plans Robotic and Artificial Intelligence Health Center
SZABMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Tanwir Khaliq, who is also a surgeon, described the procedure as an important development for the university and Pakistan’s wider healthcare community.
“Today’s procedure is an important step for SZABMU and for the wider healthcare community. It shows how robotic technology, reliable connectivity and close coordination between surgical teams can expand the possibilities for specialist care. As we develop these capabilities, patient safety, professional training and responsible use of technology must remain central,” Prof. Khaliq said.
He also announced that the university had secured approval for its first Robotic and Artificial Intelligence Health Center.
The proposed center is intended to support the development of robotic and artificial intelligence applications in healthcare, alongside professional training and institutional capacity-building.
Telesurgery Could Expand Access to Specialist Care
The demonstration at FHCC 2026 brought the practical application of telesurgery before a healthcare audience and highlighted the growing role of Pakistani surgeons in adopting advanced medical technologies.
Telesurgery could eventually help connect specialist surgical expertise with patients in locations where access to particular medical skills is limited.
However, wider adoption will depend on reliable technology, appropriate clinical protocols, patient safety measures and effective coordination between remote surgeons and teams at the operating site.
The collaboration between Prof. Asghar and Dr. Sana Sharafat Ali marks a notable milestone in Pakistan’s robotic surgery landscape, opening further discussion about the potential of digitally connected surgical care.