Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency. Kolkata: From transforming complex cancer procedures to enabling faster recovery after joint replacement surgeries, robotic-assisted technology is steadily redefining the future of healthcare in Eastern India. Commemorating National Technology Day and celebrating the growing role of advanced technology in modern healthcare, Manipal Hospitals East hosted Robotic Summit 2026, bringing together patients who had undergone robotic surgeries alongside leading medical experts from the hospital group to discuss the future of robotic-assisted care and precision-driven treatment. The opening ceremony was marked by the presence of Chief Guest at Robotic Summit 2026, Dr. Sushmita Mitra, Full Professor (HAG) and a former head of the Machine Intelligence Unit at Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, Dr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Regional Director, Manipal Hospitals East, Dr Kunal Sarkar, Director – Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur Cluster, Dr. Sourav Dattta, Director – Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Care, Manipal Hospitals - Mukundapur, Salt Lake & Siliguri Clusters, Dr. Vikash Kapoor, Cluster Director - Orthopaedics, Manipal Hospitals Mukundapur Cluster, Dr. Arunava Roy, HOD - Gynaecologic Oncology, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass and Senior Consultant - Gynaecologic Oncology, Manipal Hospitals Broadway and Salt Lake, Dr. Abhay Kumar, Director – Urology and Uro-Oncology, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass and Senior Consultant – Urology, Manipal Hospitals Mukundapur, Broadway and Salt Lake, Dr. Sumanta Dey, Senior Consultant and HOD - Robotic, Advanced Laparoscopic, Bariatric and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, Dr. Subhasis Saha, Clinical Lead – Pediatric Surgery & Pediatric Urology, Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, and Dr. Debasis Chakravarty, Director - Orthopaedics, Manipal Hospital Broadway, along with other senior clinicians and dignitaries from the hospital group.
Recognised as “The Robotic Benchmark”, Manipal Hospitals East, through Robotic Summit 2026, reinforced its position as East India’s largest robotic hospital network and robotic surgical programme, highlighting how advanced robotic-assisted technology is transforming patient care and surgical outcomes across multiple specialities. With over 3000 robotic surgeries successfully performed, a team of more than 30 expert robotic surgeons, expertise across 10+ surgical specialities, and five advanced robotic systems across its Kolkata hospitals, the healthcare network showcased how robotic-assisted procedures are enabling enhanced precision, minimally invasive treatment, faster recovery, reduced post-operative complications, and improved patient outcomes. The summit also witnessed the launch of dedicated robotic doctor badges, recognising the expertise and contribution of robotic surgery specialists across multiple disciplines at Manipal Hospitals East. Further strengthening its focus on awareness, education, and collaborative learning in advanced healthcare, the hospital group also announced a dedicated Robotic Workshop scheduled for June 2026. The workshop will bring together doctors, corporate representatives, and members of the media to provide deeper insights into robotic-assisted surgical technology, its clinical benefits, evolving applications across specialties, and its growing role in shaping the future of precision-driven healthcare.
Speaking as the Chief Guest at Robotic Summit 2026, Dr. Sushmita Mitra, Full Professor (HAG) and a former head of the Machine Intelligence Unit at Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata said, “The future of healthcare will increasingly be shaped by the seamless integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, medical imaging, and robotic-assisted technologies. Today, robotics is not only enhancing surgical precision and clinical decision-making but is also helping create safer, minimally invasive, and more patient-centric healthcare systems. As advancements in data science and intelligent technologies continue to evolve, we are witnessing a transformational shift in how complex diseases are diagnosed, monitored, and treated. Platforms such as Robotic Summit 2026 play an important role in encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration between clinicians, researchers, technologists, and healthcare institutions, ultimately accelerating innovation and improving patient outcomes. It is encouraging to see institutions like Manipal Hospitals East driving the adoption of advanced technology-led healthcare and building greater awareness around the future potential of robotic and AI-enabled medicine in India.”
Speaking on robotic advancements in cardiac surgery, Dr Kunal Sarkar, Director – Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Manipal Hospital.