The Max Institute of Laparoscopic, Robotic, Bariatric Surgery & GI Surgery has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Intuitive Surgical, a global leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery. Through this collaboration, the two organisations aim to strengthen surgeon capability, advance structured training pathways, and accelerate the responsible adoption of robotic-assisted surgery across both common and complex procedures.
Ultimately, the partnership seeks to expand patient access to robotic-assisted surgical care across India.
Focus on Training and Scalable Adoption
At the core of the MoU lies a shared commitment to building surgical expertise through systematic training and education. By supporting skill development and standardised learning pathways, the collaboration aims to transition robotic-assisted surgery from selective use in complex cases to broader, routine adoption in everyday surgical practice.
In doing so, the partnership addresses both clinical quality and long-term scalability.
Leaders Formalise the Collaboration
As reported by Pharmabiz, the MoU was signed by Dr. Pradeep Chowbey, Group Chairman, Max Institute of Laparoscopic, Robotic, Bariatric Surgery & GI Surgery; David J. Rosa, Chief Executive Officer, Intuitive Surgical; and Rohitt Mahajan, Vice President and General Manager, Intuitive India.
Highlighting the significance of the agreement, Dr. Chowbey emphasised the need to integrate robotic-assisted surgery more systematically into commonly performed operations.
Driving Scale Through Experience and Infrastructure
Drawing on over four decades of leadership in minimally invasive surgery and extensive experience in robotic-assisted procedures, Dr. Chowbey underscored the importance of scale in achieving meaningful patient impact.
“The true success of robotic-assisted surgery lies in its potential for scale,” he said. “For any medical technology innovation to truly transform patient care, it must move beyond selective adoption and become part of routine surgical practice. With the right training infrastructure and safety standards, robotic-assisted platforms such as da Vinci can enhance safety and efficiency even in commonly performed procedures.”
Patient Outcomes at the Centre of Collaboration
Commenting on the partnership, Rohitt Mahajan reiterated Intuitive’s focus on patient-centric innovation. “Patient outcomes are central to everything we do. We remain committed to advancing minimally invasive care through structured training, responsible adoption, and close clinical collaboration,” he said.
Advancing Clinical Research and Evidence Generation
Beyond training and adoption, the MoU formalises collaboration in clinical research. As part of this initiative, surgeons from Max will participate in Intuitive-led clinical studies for approved indications. In parallel, Intuitive will support Max-led research by providing assistance in study design, data analytics, and scientific publication.
Towards a Centre of Excellence in Robotic Surgery
Looking ahead, the partnership also envisages the creation of a Centre of Excellence dedicated to building robust clinical and economic evidence for robotic-assisted surgery. This initiative aims to support informed decision-making by hospitals and healthcare systems.
Over time, the evidence generated could help insurance frameworks evolve, reduce financial barriers, and enable broader patient access to robotic-assisted surgery where clinically appropriate.
Through this strategic collaboration, Max Institute and Intuitive Surgical reinforce their shared vision of advancing safe, effective, and accessible minimally invasive surgical care across India.