Dr. Aritra Ghosh, Consultant General, Laparoscopic & Minimal Access Surgery, and Dr. Pradeep Haranahalli, Senior Consultant - Interventional Cardiology, addressing the Press Meet at Kolkata Press Club, Kolkata. Pictures by Bibhash Lodh/BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency, Kolkata,
19th January, 2026: Rapid advancements in medical
technology are increasingly redefining the way complex health conditions are
treated today in India. Procedures such as robot-assisted gastrointestinal
surgery, precision angioplasty, and non-surgical heart valve replacement
(TAVR/TAVI) now offer safe, effective, and mainstream treatment options for
patients with greater precision, faster recovery, and improved long-term
outcomes. These innovations are especially impactful for patients who were
previously considered high-risk for conventional surgery or faced prolonged
recovery periods. Recognising the growing relevance, experts from Manipal
Hospital Whitefield, Bengaluru, came together to discuss the immense potential
of these technologies for the people of West Bengal, not as an add-on or
limited to select cases, but for mainstream regular use. Dr. Aritra Ghosh,
Consultant General, Laparoscopic & Minimal Access Surgery, and Dr. Pradeep
Haranahalli, Senior Consultant - Interventional Cardiology, shared clinical
insights and the evolving role of advanced technologies in two key domains - Robotic
Surgery and Minimally Invasive Cardiology. Manipal Hospital Whitefield, known
for its patient-centric, affordable, and outcome-driven care, has witnessed a
steady rise in patients from Eastern India seeking advanced gastrointestinal
and cardiac interventions. Over the last two years, the hospital has
successfully performed more than 1,000+ complex intra-abdominal robotic
surgeries and IVUS/OCT-guided precision angioplasties, with a huge number of
patients visiting from Kolkata and various parts of West Bengal. To ensure
seamless continuity of care, the hospital has been conducting regular outreach
OPDs across West Bengal, allowing patients to access follow-up consultations
closer to home. Further strengthening access for patients in Eastern India, the
hospital has recently opened 2 Medical Digital Information Centres in West
Bengal Terressa Diagnostic Centre at Arambagh, and Analysis Diagnostic Centre
at Ghatal. The session on robotic surgery was led by Dr. Aritra Ghosh, who
covered the scopes of robot-assisted surgeries, ranging from gall bladder and
biliary surgeries, abdominal hernia surgeries, and colorectal surgeries
performed with the da Vinci X Robotic System. Dr. Ghosh stated, "This
pain-free, precise alternative to open or laparoscopic approaches offers faster
recovery, early discharge, and quicker return to work without any
complications. For us surgeons, robotic surgery brings superior precision,
enhanced visualisation, and better control, giving near-zero room for any
clinical error." The cardiology session followed Dr. Pradip Haranahalli,
who spoke about the role of precision angioplasty and valve replacement
(TAVR/TAVI) in mainstream use as a safe alternative to conventional treatment.
Dr. Haranahalli noted, "Even complex and complete coronary blockages can
now be treated with exceptional accuracy using IVUS and OCT guidance, which not
just improves long-term outcomes, but also lowers recurrence rates. The same
goes for valve replacement, which can now be performed without open-heart surgery
safely for elderly patients and high-risk groups." Manipal Hospital
Whitefield has been a top-ranked hospital for many years in terms of excellent
minimal access surgeries and angioplasty outcomes, and subsequent follow-ups
through online consults and follow-up visits by our dedicated team of doctors,
bridging the gap between advanced tertiary care and regional patients.