"Virtual Health" Performs 11 Robotic Surgeries Remotely, Including the World's Second Remote Lung Lobe Removal
The Virtual Health Hospital conducted 11 robotic surgeries remotely, including the world's second remote lung lobe removal, as part of a national partnership.
The Virtual Health Hospital successfully conducted 11 consecutive robotic surgeries remotely in specialized fields, as part of a comprehensive national partnership that included the Hail Health Cluster, the University Medical City at King Saud University, "Zain Saudi Arabia," and Edge Company specializing in robotic devices and solutions, represented by Al-Ameen Company. This achievement reflects the advancement of the healthcare system in transferring precise medical expertise across different regions and expanding access to advanced surgical services, facilitating beneficiaries' access to high-quality and efficient healthcare services. This aligns with the goals of the Health Sector Transformation Program and Saudi Vision 2030 towards a "Vibrant Society" with better health and quality of life.
The "Virtual Health" explained that the surgical team in Riyadh managed to conduct the surgeries remotely for beneficiaries who were receiving care in Hail and other locations in Riyadh, within an integrated network that expands to cover a range of sites in the Kingdom's regions, including peripheral areas. The operations included the removal of the right lower lobe of the lung, marking the second global instance of remote lung lobe removal and the fifth globally for remote lung resection, alongside gastric sleeve surgeries, hernia repairs, pelvic explorations, and hysterectomies.
This was part of the "Saudi Protocol for Remote Surgeries" project, launched by "Virtual Health" as a national reference framework organizing robotic medical interventions according to the highest quality and safety standards. It contributes to transferring advanced expertise between the Kingdom's regions and enables beneficiaries to access specialized competencies wherever they are.
The robotic surgery systems used in the project have been approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, confirming their readiness for clinical use and supporting the highest safety standards according to the regulatory requirements approved in the Kingdom. The project was preceded by a series of clinical, technical, and training tests and simulations to verify the readiness of the systems and medical and technical staff, enhancing the reliability of the operational model and establishing the Kingdom's leadership in adopting the latest advanced medical technologies globally.