Slavmed performs Armenia’s first robotic remote surgery

Slavmed Medical Center says it completed Armenia’s first robotic remote surgery in Yerevan, with a Belgian urologist operating from more than 3,300 kilometers away. The milestone could expand access to advanced care and lower the need for patients to travel abroad.

Why it matters: - Slavmed Medical Center says the procedure puts Armenia among the countries able to offer remote robotic surgery. - The case could expand access to high-end urology care without requiring patients to leave the country. - Clinic leaders say the system may also reduce costs tied to overseas treatment, travel, and lodging.

What happened: - Slavmed Medical Center performed Armenia’s first robotic remote surgery on a patient in Yerevan. - Professor Alexandre Mottrie, head of urology at OLV Hospital in Aalst, Belgium, and executive director of the ORSI Academy, carried out the operation from Belgium. - Mottrie operated from more than 3,300 kilometers away. - The patient had early-stage prostate cancer and underwent a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. - Slavmed founder Armine Hovakimyan called the surgery a landmark achievement for the medical center.

The details: - Slavmed says the procedure was completed safely and successfully with support from its medical team and its technological infrastructure. - The clinic used the Toumai MT-1000 robotic surgical system. - The system included Armenia’s only dedicated module for remote surgery. - High-speed internet infrastructure supported the remote operation. - Engineers and surgical teams stayed on standby at both locations throughout the procedure. - Backup communication channels were in place in case connectivity was disrupted. - Mher Mkrtchyan, head of urology at Slavmed, remained in the operating theatre with the patient during the operation. - Mkrtchyan said he was ready to continue the surgery immediately if any technical issue arose. - Slavmed says it was the first medical center in Armenia to introduce robotic surgery and build a specialized robotic surgical team. - The clinic said extensive preparatory work synchronized the robotic systems at the two hospitals.

Between the lines: - The operation is as much an infrastructure milestone as a clinical one. - Remote robotic surgery depends on stable communications, backup systems, and tightly coordinated teams, not just surgical skill. - Slavmed is positioning itself as a regional technology leader, not only a local hospital. - Mottrie’s involvement adds international credibility to the program. - The claim that the system lowers costs points to a broader push to keep complex care inside Armenia.

What’s next: - Slavmed is likely to use the procedure as proof of concept for more remote surgeries. - The clinic says its goal is to make advanced treatment available to patients in Armenia at the level of leading global centers. - Future cases will test whether the model can scale reliably and safely.

The bottom line: - Armenia’s first remote robotic surgery is a technical first for Slavmed and a potential step toward broader access to specialized care in the country.