Two government hospitals have performed robotic surgeries with doctors and patients about 1,400 kilometers apart, marking what officials described as the Philippines’ first inter-regional telesurgeries.
On September 5, Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) in San Fernando, Pampanga, and Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) in Cotabato City completed two robotic cholecystectomies, or gallbladder removal procedures, with surgeons remotely controlling robotic instruments from the other hospital.
The milestone demonstrates how telesurgery could eventually bring specialist care closer to patients in areas where advanced surgical expertise is limited.
The first procedure began at around 8 a.m., with Dr. Ryan Quiambao of JBLMGH operating from Pampanga while his patient was at CRMC in Cotabato City.
Several hours later, the setup was reversed. At around 1 p.m., a CRMC surgeon remotely operated on a patient at JBLMGH.
Both procedures used the SSI Mantra 3.0 robotic surgical system, which allows a surgeon at a console to control instruments positioned beside a patient at another location.
Quiambao said the latency, or delay between his commands and the robot’s response, was measured at 0.76 milliseconds during the demonstration.
Bringing specialists closer to patients
Health Secretary Edwin Mercado said the technology could be particularly useful in communities without surgeons and in places where advanced medical care is difficult to reach.
“Ito’y napakaimportante kasi tinitingnan na natin ‘yung mga lugar na walang siruhano, mga lugar na mahirap marating. Nakakapag-access ang ating mga kababayan at hindi hadlang ‘yung espasyo o ‘yung geographic location para maka-avail nitong serbisyo natin,” Mercado said.
Telesurgery does not eliminate the need for more healthcare professionals or better-equipped hospitals. But it could provide another way for specialists to reach patients without requiring either the surgeon or the patient to travel long distances.
The technology also does not mean patients are left alone with a robot.
Medical teams remain physically present in the operating room while the remote surgeon controls the robotic instruments. CRMC surgeon Dr. Al-Jazzer Angas said laparoscopic and open surgery were available as backup options should problems arise with the system.
Reliable connectivity, trained personnel and contingency procedures therefore remain essential to remote surgery.
Not the Philippines’ first telesurgery
The Pampanga-Cotabato operations were the first reported inter-regional telesurgeries between Philippine government hospitals, but they were not the first telesurgery involving a patient in the country.
In August, a surgeon in Shanghai performed a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy on a patient at the Urology Center of the Philippines in Quezon City.
CRMC itself had already launched a robotic surgery program earlier in 2026 and performed robotic procedures locally before participating in the September 5 operations.
Could patients get it without a large hospital bill?
Affordability could ultimately determine whether the technology becomes accessible beyond a limited number of patients.
Qualified patients may receive covered services under applicable Zero Balance Billing arrangements at participating public hospitals, with PhilHealth benefits and government assistance helping cover eligible costs. Eligibility and program rules still apply.
On September 1, the Department of Budget and Management approved P10.377 billion for Zero Balance Billing implementation, including P9.377 billion for DOH hospitals nationwide.
The September 5 operations showed what is technologically possible. The larger challenge will be turning that possibility into a service that can be delivered safely, reliably and affordably across more parts of the country.
For an archipelago where distance can determine how quickly a patient reaches specialized care, that could be the real significance of having a surgeon operate from hundreds of kilometers away.