Jakarta, INTI - In early March, seven remote operations were successfully conducted at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University's international remote robotic center.
One of the operations was conducted by a doctor from Poland, Piotr Suwalski, who is also the Director of the National Medical Institute under Poland's Ministry of the Interior and Administration.
Suwalski sat inside the hospital's remote robotic center in China and conducted a surgery for a patient through a surgical robot 7,000 kilometers away in Poland. The successful surgery results boosted Suwalski's cconfidence of promoting the technology in Poland.
The West China Hospital of Sichuan University's international remote robotic center was then inaugurated on March 21, 2026. Wu Hong, a liver transplant expert and vice president of the hospital, said that the establishment of the center will be beneficial for patients.
"Compared with traveling to Chengdu for the surgery, patients and their families can now undergo robot-assisted surgery in their hometowns. Cutting financial and time burdens by up to 80 percent," he said when he highlighted hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery.
The center operates with a 24/7 emergency response mechanism, with a professional team comprising surgical specialists, anesthesiologists, nursing personnel, network engineers, and equipment engineers to ensure remote surgery safety.
2026 Marks a Milestone for China’s Surgical Robot Industry
China’s surgical robot industry is looking at positive demand in 2026, as the planned issuance of the first price guidelines is expected to drive more orderly industry growth, supported by government policies and rising market demand.
Globally, Chinese-made surgical robots are also gaining attention, with exports surging 368% year-on-year in 2025 according to the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products, reflecting growing international recognition of the quality and competitiveness of Chinese medical technology.
As the Belt and Road Initiative progresses, the expansion of Chinese surgical robots and medical devices into overseas markets is also accelerating. The country's total medical device exports resulted in $45.8 billion in 2025, up 62.4% compared to 2019, according to the China Association of Medical Equipment, which assesses that the sector is shifting from cost-based advantages to technological and brand strengths.
Surgical Robot Establishment and Adoption in Other Countries
At an international surgical robot conference held in Chengdu in late March, more than 700 experts from various regions discussed the technology’s innovations and development. Luo Fengming, President of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, stated that the newly inaugurated international remote robotic center will drive further innovation. The hospital also plans to establish a remote surgical robot control center in Egypt in July to support technology adoption and enhance the capabilities of local doctors.
Luo emphasized the importance of strengthening the remote surgery network, technological innovation, clinical application, and talent development. He also highlighted the need for closer international collaboration to deliver increasingly precise, intelligent, and accessible surgical robot technology.
Conclusion
At the West China Hospital of Sichuan University's international remote robotic center, seven remote surgeries were successfully performed in early March 2026, including a procedure by Polish doctor Piotr Suwalski, who operated a surgical robot from China for a patient 7,000 km away in Poland. The international remote robotics center, inaugurated on March 21, allows patients to undergo surgery in their home regions with up to 80% cost and time savings, supported by a 24/7 standby system. More broadly, China's surgical robotics industry is also booming, driven by new regulations, a 368% surge in exports by 2025, and global expansion through the Belt and Road Initiative, with a future focus on innovation, international collaboration, and strengthening the remote surgery network.
Read more: China Successfully Launches Lijian-2 Y1 Rocket, Carries Three Satellites in Maiden Mission